Utah Hockey Club General Manager Bill Armstrong announced on *KSL Sports Zone* that defenseman Sean Durzi will be sidelined for the foreseeable future due to an upper-body injury. The announcement followed Durzi’s departure from Monday’s 3-0 loss against the New Jersey Devils after taking an awkward hit from Jonas Siegenthaler while moving the puck into the offensive zone. Prior to exiting the game, Durzi logged 9:09 of ice time over 12 shifts, recording a shot on goal and two blocked shots.
During his weekly interview with Armstrong, he didn’t provide a specific timeline for Durzi’s return but hinted that the recovery might take some time. The injury comes as a setback for Durzi, who had shown solid play through the first four games of the season, including two assists and the franchise’s first-ever fight against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy.
Last season, Durzi enjoyed a career-best year with 32 assists and 41 points in 76 games with the Arizona Coyotes. This success led to his signing of a four-year contract extension with Utah, carrying a $6 million cap hit through the 2027-28 season.
Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, Durzi was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft. However, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in January 2019 as part of the deal that sent Jake Muzzin to Toronto. Over his career, Durzi has accumulated 21 goals and 87 assists, totaling 108 points in 216 NHL games with the Kings, Coyotes, and now Utah.
With Durzi sidelined, the Utah Hockey Club will need to adjust their defensive strategy, particularly with Durzi previously paired with Mikhail Sergachev on the top line. The team is expected to recall a player from their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, to fill the gap left by Durzi’s absence.
GET MORE CONTENT HERE
Leave a Reply