Sean Durzi could be out for the rest of the season for the Utah Hockey Club after having surgery on his right shoulder.
The defenseman is projected to return in 4-6 months. He was injured in a 3-0 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 14.
"It doesn't look like he's going to be back anytime soon," Utah general manager Bill Armstrong told KSL Sports the next day.
Durzi, who turned 26 on Monday, has two assists in four games this season. He led all Arizona Coyotes defensemen last season with 41 points (nine goals and 32 assists) in 76 games after arriving in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on June 24, 2023, for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Maveric Lamoureux was recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League and could make his NHL debut when Utah hosts the Colorado Avalanche at Delta Center on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; Utah16, ALT). The 20-year-old defenseman has two goals and one assist in four games of his first professional season. He was a first-round pick (No. 29) of the Coyotes at the 2022 NHL Draft and played four seasons for Drummondville of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Robert Bortuzzo has replaced Durzi in the lineup. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with Utah on Aug. 31.
"Durzi is a big piece," Armstrong said. "We're going to have to find a way to replace (him), whether that be somebody that's here with us like Bortuzzo goes in, or it's a callup. You're never going to replace him, but we're going to have someone go in there and try and basically patch up the best way we can."
John Marino will be sidelined for 3-4 months. The 27-year-old defenseman had lower-back surgery and has not played this season after he was injured during training camp. He was traded to Utah by New Jersey on June 29.
"He will be back this year," coach Andre Tourigny told the Salt Lake Tribune on Oct. 18. "When? Not soon enough. But he will be back."
Nick Bjugstad (upper body) continues to skate with Utah but has not yet been cleared to play. The 32-year-old forward was injured during camp.
