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USA TODAY Sports

Without a doubt, one of the biggest surprises this season for the Penguins has been the emergence of 19-year-old defenseman Olli Maatta.

As rare as it is for teenage defensemen to even make an NHL roster, a rookie blueliner who is among the team leaders in power-play points, is a plus-nine and averages 20 minutes of ice time per game is simply unheard of—but that's exactly what Maatta has done in 2013-14.

Not expected to challenge for a roster spot until next season, Maatta was a standout in training camp, and his mobility and ability to jump into the play made him a natural fit for the Pens' up-tempo system.

Not wanting to overwhelm him early on, the coaching staff kept Maatta on a shortened leash on a third-line pairing, and he was limited to about 15 minutes of ice time per game.

However, injuries to Paul Martin and Kris Letang forced Maatta into a bigger role, and he responded with his most productive stretch of the season.

After totaling just one goal and four assists in the first two months of the season, Maatta tallied four goals and 11 assists in December and January and continued his strong play at the Sochi Olympics as a key member of the bronze-medal winning Team Finland.

While Maatta has yet to hit the proverbial "rookie wall," his production has been down of late, and he will have to play well in the postseason to prove that his emergence was no fluke.