O'Brien scored a goal on two shots and added six hits in Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Ducks.
O'Brien was in the lineup over Brandon Tanev in Wednesday's contest, and the former made the most of his rare chance to play. Through nine outings this season, O'Brien has two goals, 14 shots on net, 21 hits, 12 PIM and a minus-4 rating. He was a scratch for six games prior to Wednesday, and he's likely to max out as a rotation fourth-line option that the Mammoth utilize whenever they need some toughness.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Minimal playing time in November
Rotowire
O'Brien was scratched for the sixth straight game in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Sharks.
O'Brien played just twice over 15 games in November, contributing five hits and five PIM. His trend of sitting in the press box looks set to continue in December, especially since the Mammoth called up top prospect Daniil But, who is likely to get a look in the lineup before O'Brien draws back in. On the year, O'Brien has one goal, 12 shots on net, 15 hits and 12 PIM over eight appearances, and he'll typically only play when the Mammoth need a boost in grit.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Scores in season debut
Rotowire
O'Brien scored a goal on two shots and blocked two shots in Friday's 6-3 win over the Sharks.
This was O'Brien's first goal in a Utah sweater -- he was limited to two assists over 28 games with the team in 2024-25. He missed the first four contests of 2025-26 due to an undisclosed injury, but head coach Andre Tourigny was impressed with O'Brien's performance and confirmed the 31-year-old would play again Sunday versus the Bruins, Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports reports. O'Brien doesn't offer much for standard fantasy formats, but he's logged at least 100 hits and 50 PIM in four straight seasons, so he could have appeal in banger leagues if he plays regularly.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Set to return Friday
Rotowire
O'Brien (undisclosed) will play in Friday's game against the Sharks, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports.
O'Brien began the regular season on non-roster injured reserve, but he'll be able to make his season debut during Friday's matchup, replacing Kailer Yamamoto in the lineup. O'Brien made 28 regular-season appearances for Utah last year, recording two assists, 100 hits, 50 PIM and 11 blocked shots while averaging 9:18 of ice time.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Placed on non-roster IR
Rotowire
O'Brien was designated for non-roster injured reserve with an undisclosed injury Monday.
O'Brien was dealing with a lower-body injury during preseason, but it's not clear if this is related to the same issue or a different problem. The team didn't provide any specifics in its roster release, so fantasy managers will have to take a wait-and-see approach. For now, it's safe to assume O'Brien won't be ready for Opening Night against the Avalanche on Thursday.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Ready to rock
Rotowire
O'Brien (lower body) is expected to be in the lineup for Tuesday's preseason game versus the Kings, per Brogan Houston of Deseret News Sports.
Based on Tuesday's morning skate, O'Brien is poised to play on the fourth line and see time on the penalty kill, which will likely be his roles during the 2025-26 campaign. He compiled two assists, 34 shots on goal, 100 hits and 50 PIM across 28 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season.
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Mammoth's Liam O'Brien: Listed week-to-week
Rotowire
O'Brien (lower body) is week-to-week, Brogan Houston of Desert News Sports reported Wednesday.
O'Brien hasn't been skating at training camp, and it's unclear when he will resume practicing with his teammates. He produced two assists, 34 shots on goal, 100 hits and 50 PIM across 28 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. Once healthy, O'Brien will be in the mix for a bottom-six role.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Ready to rock
Rotowire
O'Brien (lower body) will play against Nashville on Monday, per Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune.
O'Brien will occupy a bottom-six role and provide some physicality in the lineup after missing the last 14 games. He has produced two assists, 31 shots on goal, 98 hits and 50 PIM in 27 appearances this season. O'Brien's return will bump Kailer Yamamoto to the press box as a healthy scratch.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Might return during road trip
Rotowire
O'Brien (lower body) could return to the lineup before the end of the regular season, Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune reports Tuesday.
O'Brien will miss his 12th straight game against Seattle on Tuesday and likely won't play against Nashville on Thursday. However, he could be an option during Utah's regular-season ending three-game road trip. O'Brien has compiled two assists, 31 shots on goal, 98 hits and 50 PIM through 27 appearances this season.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Dealing with lower-body injury
Rotowire
O'Brien (lower body) won't be available for at least the remainder of Utah's road trip, Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune reports Saturday.
O'Brien is back in Salt Lake City for further evaluation after getting hurt in Friday's 4-2 loss to Seattle. He has produced two assists, 31 shots on goal, 98 hits and 50 PIM in 27 appearances this season. Due to O'Brien's absence, Matias Maccelli or Nick Bjugstad will play against Vancouver on Sunday.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Leaves game in third period
Rotowire
O'Brien sustained an undisclosed injury in the third period of Friday's game versus the Kraken, and there was no update on his status after the contest, Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
It's unclear what forced O'Brien to leave the contest. If he can't suit up in Vancouver on Sunday, Nick Bjugstad (upper body) was activated from injured reserve but scratched for Friday's contest and could be an option to enter the lineup.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Assist, fight in loss
Rotowire
O'Brien notched an assist, three hits and five PIM in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Devils.
O'Brien got the scrap out of the way early, dropping the mitts with Brenden Dillon in the first period. In the middle frame, O'Brien set up Utah's lone goal, scored by Mikhail Sergachev. Both of O'Brien's assists this season have come over his last five games, though he's also been scratched three times in that span. The 30-year-old enforcer has added 43 PIM, 82 hits and 27 shots on net over 22 appearances in a fourth-line role.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Picks fight in overtime loss
Rotowire
O'Brien logged five PIM in Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Penguins.
O'Brien fought Penguins call-up and former Coyotes teammate Bokondji Imama in the first period. While offense continues to elude O'Brien, he's played in 10 of 13 games for Utah in January. That's largely come at the expense of Michael Carcone, though it was Matias Maccelli who was out of the lineup for Wednesday's game. O'Brien has no points, 29 PIM, 57 hits, 16 shots on net and a minus-1 rating through 14 appearances this season, so he's unlikely to be a factor in fantasy.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: No ice time in November
Rotowire
O'Brien was scratched for all 13 of Utah's games in November.
Barring injuries or the need for an enforcer in the lineup, it doesn't look like O'Brien will draw in often. He's the 13th forward for Utah, and he hasn't been able to unseat Michael Carcone or Kevin Stenlund for playing time. O'Brien can be a solid source of hits and PIMs when he plays. However, he offers virtually no scoring upside and has no fantasy appeal if he can't get into game action.
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Hockey Club's Liam O'Brien: Minimal playing time
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O'Brien was scratched Wednesday versus the Flames, the eighth time in 11 games he's sat out.
O'Brien has averaged just 8:51 of ice time over his three appearances so far, adding five PIM, 13 hits and one shot on goal. The 30-year-old has mostly been an enforcer throughout his career -- he's topped 100 PIM in three straight seasons and has back-to-back 200-hit campaigns. O'Brien and Michael Carcone are likely to compete for one spot in the lineup most of the time. Both were out Wednesday when Utah opted to dress seven defensemen following the trade for Olli Maatta and the demotion of Josh Doan.
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Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Inks three-year deal
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O'Brien signed a three-year contract with Utah HC on Wednesday, per Chris Johnston of The Athletic.
O'Brien had five goals, 14 points, 153 PIM and 228 hits in 75 contests with the Coyotes in 2023-24. The 29-year-old is likely to serve primarily on the fourth line for the upcoming season. He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Monday after completing his two-year, $1.55 million contract.
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Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Sets tone with early goal
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O'Brien scored a goal on three shots and added four hits in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Oilers.
O'Brien opened the scoring at 2:18 of the first period in a game the Coyotes never fell behind in. The fourth-liner had three points over eight contests in April, finishing 2023-24 with career-best numbers across the board. He had 14 points, 72 shots on net, 153 PIM and 228 hits over 75 appearances. He is a pending unrestricted free agent, though O'Brien's peak is likely a high-energy fourth-liner.
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Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Deposits goal Sunday
Rotowire
O'Brien scored a goal on four shots and logged three hits in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Sharks.
O'Brien has points in back-to-back contests after an 11-game drought. The 29-year-old has enjoyed some short bursts of offense this season, but he stays in the lineup for his physicality. He's at 13 points, 65 shots on net, 216 hits and 153 PIM through 70 appearances this season.
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Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Adds assist, physicality in win
Rotowire
O'Brien notched an assist, 10 hits and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 7-4 win over the Golden Knights.
O'Brien snapped an 11-game point drought when he set up Michael Carcone's game-tying goal in the third period. During the scoring slump, O'Brien racked up 20 PIM and 43 hits as a physical fourth-liner. The 29-year-old forward is at a career-high 12 points with 213 hits, 153 PIM, 61 shots on net and a minus-1 rating over 69 appearances this season.
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Coyotes' Liam O'Brien: Assists in consecutive contests
Rotowire
O'Brien notched an assist in Friday's 4-0 win over the Red Wings.
O'Brien has a helper in three of the last four games. Friday was just the third game all season in which he failed to log a hit. The fourth-liner has 11 points, matching his career high, and he's added 133 PIM, 160 hits and 45 shots on net over 57 appearances.
