Utah's Durzi out 4-6 months, Marino to miss 3-4 months

Utah Hockey Club's blue line has taken a major hit early in the season.

Sean Durzi underwent right shoulder surgery and will miss four-to-six months, while John Marino is expected to be out for three-to-four months after having a procedure on his lower back, the team announced Wednesday.

Durzi and Marino - both right-shot defenders - were expected to be Utah's No. 2 and 3 defensemen this season behind Mikhail Sergachev. Michael Kesselring, Robert Bortuzzo, and lefty Juuso Valimaki have manned the right side of the team's blue line in their absences.

In a related move, Utah recalled one of its top prospects, Maveric Lamoureux, on Wednesday. The 6-foot-7, right-shot defenseman has scored twice and added a helper in four AHL games this season. He was drafted 29th overall in 2022.

Durzi, 26, managed a pair of assists in four games before going down. He led all Arizona Coyotes defenseman in points (41) and ice time (22:43) last season and inked a four-year, $24-million contract in the summer.

Marino was projected to play a key shutdown role but has yet to suit up in the 2024-25 campaign. Utah acquired Marino and a fourth-round pick from the New Jersey Devils this offseason in exchange for two second-round picks.

Despite the blows on defense, Utah is off to a 4-2-1 start in its inaugural campaign.