In a devastating blow to the Utah Hockey Club, both Sean Durzi and John Marino will be sidelined for an extended period of time due to undergoing surgeries. The team made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Durzi’s recovery timeline is set at four to six months, while Marino’s is three to four months.
Durzi, who had surgery on his right shoulder following an injury against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 14, has only managed two assists in four games this season. The 26-year-old defenseman, who is in the first season of a lucrative four-year, $24 million deal, had an impressive season last year with the Arizona Coyotes, recording nine goals and 41 points in 76 games. The 6-foot right-shot defenseman was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a draft pick in June of 2023, bringing his total career stats to 21 goals and 106 points in 212 games split between the Kings and Coyotes.
Marino, who has yet to play this season, underwent surgery on his lower back. The 27-year-old defenseman was acquired from the New Jersey Devils at the draft in June in exchange for two second-round picks, with Utah also receiving a fifth-rounder. Marino had a solid season with the Devils last year, tallying four goals and 25 points in 75 games. He is signed through the 2026-27 season with a cap hit of $4.4 million on the six-year deal he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021.
The absence of these two key defenseman will undoubtedly be felt by the Utah Hockey Club, as they look to navigate the season without two important pieces of their defensive core. It will be a challenging road ahead for the team as they adjust to life without Durzi and Marino, but they remain determined to overcome this setback and continue their pursuit of success on the ice.