Olli Maatta Has a Thyroid Tumor, Will Continue to Play

[Card Magnet]

Well that certainly sucks. He'll continue to play until he has surgery to remove it, and should only miss four weeks for recovery post-surgery.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2014/10/27/Penguins-Maatta-to-undergo-surgery-for-thyroid-tumor/stories/201410270158

Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta will undergo surgery next week to remove a tumor on his thyroid gland.

He is expected to have a four-week recovery period and not require chemosurgery or radiation, even though team physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas said there is an “85 percent chance” the mass is cancerous.

Maatta, 20, is cleared to continue playing until he has the surgery.

“I don’t think I feel any different,” Maatta said. “I felt the same as I did before I found out.”

Maatta, in his second season with the Penguins, has filled a prominent role for the Penguins, performing in a way that general manager Jim Rutherford said is "absolutely amazing" under the circumstances.

Dr. Vyas said the tumor was discovered during a preseason physical and the diagnosis was finalized after multiple tests.

[mstng99tim]

Yeah, that certainly sucks, but it looks like he should be healthy after that.