NHL News: Utah HC Enforcer Liam O'Brien Likely Out For the Season

After suffering an injury Friday night in Utah's 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, the Hockey Club's enforcer Liam O'Brien has now been determined to be out for four weeks, which basically takes him out for the rest of the regular season.

Per Tourigny, #UtahHC Liam O’Brien will be out for four weeks with a lower-body injury.

Nick Bjugstad will enter the lineup tonight in his place on the fourth line.
— Belle Fraser (@bellefraser1) March 16, 2025

The fourth-line forward, O'Brien was injured in the third period of the game, when he took a hit from Seattle’s Tye Kartye and went hard into the boards. It's being labeled as a lower-body injury.

O'Brien signed a three-year, $1M AAV extension last summer, but hasn't seen as much of a consistent role with the club as he did in Arizona the past couple of seasons. He's played just 27 games this season with Utah, but has still been ready to drop the gloves anytime, if needed.

Pat Maroon drops the gloves with Liam O'Brien. I'd say Maroon won that tilt pic.twitter.com/oG05jWjvMj
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) March 8, 2025

O'Brien has two points and 50 penalty minutes this season, with 98 hits in those 27 games.

In 226 career NHL contests over eight seasons, he's suited up for the Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, as well as the Coyotes and Utah. O’Brien has 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 total points with 491 penalty minutes and 737 hits. He went undrafted in 2014 and was signed by the Caps.

Forward Nick Bjugstad has re-entered the lineup as O'Brien exits, with Bjugstad having missed a few games with an upper-body injury.

Utah's playoff hopes are still alive, as they sit just four points back of the Vancouver Canucks for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.