Enforcers are often thought of as a relic of another time, but Liam O’Brien is one player who can still fit the mold. That said, look for him to embrace such a role on the Utah Hockey Club following a season in which he led the NHL with 153 penalty minutes.
He logged just 9:44 of average total ice time in 2023-24, but O’Brien asserted the intimidation factor when he was in the game, registering 229 hits to go with those 153 penalty minutes. That said, he’ll be the one sticking up for star players like Clayton Keller and providing energy for the team if they need a boost.
But if you’re one of those fans who rightfully will state that there should be so much more to hockey players than just the ability to fight and hit, don’t worry. O’Brien has shown us that he provides more than that enforcer role, and it’s a prerequisite to be successful in today’s game.
Utah Hockey Club’s enforcer can provide more value at winger
You won’t see Liam O’Brien create much in the offensive zone, and that was far from his area of expertise with the Arizona Coyotes. O’Brien’s Corsi For at even strength sat at just 43.3, but he still found himself on the ice for 27 goals for. Meanwhile, he was also in the game for just 27 goals against, giving him a neutral in the plus-minus area at even strength.
His on-ice save percentage was a phenomenal 92.3, and his PDO once again found itself in the triple digits. O’Brien’s advanced numbers at 5-on-5 also weren’t much different from what he attained at even strength, and they also didn’t show much deviance at 5-on-5 close or 5-on-5 tied.
Therefore, consistency was the name of O’Brien’s game during the club’s final season in Arizona, and it’s likely what we will find during its initial run in Salt Lake City. Yet, while players like this don’t receive much recognition, they ironically show off fair leadership skills, and this fact further increases O’Brien’s value for Utah.
No, he won’t wear a ‘C’ or an ‘A’, but it doesn’t mean O’Brien won’t be a respected voice in the locker room. He’s played for several playoff-bound teams in the past, even if he primarily found himself in a part-time role until last season, and that will pay dividends for Utah both in 2024-25 and in future campaigns.