O'Brien is apparently "coming along but still far out," according to beat reporter Brogan Houston and is unsure if he will be ready for Utah's season opener on October 9th in Colorado due to a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old grinder nicknamed "Spicy Tuna" appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG.
Kailer Yamamoto will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, resulting in O'Brien being a healthy scratch. O'Brien returned to the lineup yesterday from a one-month absence due to injury, recording three shots and two hits in 11:54 time-on-ice.
O'Brien has not played since March 14th but will return on Monday against the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old O'Brien has played 27 games this season, averaging 9:12 time-on-ice and scoring two points (0G / 2A). Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate O'Brien's return to the lineup.
O'Brien will fill in for late scratch Michael Carcone (lower-body). O'Brien has zero goals and one assist in 20 games this season.
Michael Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending O'Brien to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old O'Brien is averaging 9:22 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 24 penalty minutes, and 50 hits in 12 games.
Michael Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, sending O'Brien to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old O'Brien is averaging 9:17 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 19 penalty minutes, and 36 hits in nine games this season.
O'Brien will fill in for Clayton Keller, who was a late scratch for Tuesday's game in Edmonton. O'Brien has not appeared in a game since October 28th, and has gone pointless in his three games played this season.
O'Brien will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday in favor of Juuso Valimaki as Utah HC will go with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen formation. The 30-year-old O'Brien has zero points, five penalty minutes, and 13 hits in three games this season.
After being sidelined for the last five games, O'Brien will draw into the lineup for his third game this season, replacing Josh Doan. The heavy-hitting O'Brien has been held off the scoresheet in two games this season but has tallied 10 hits.
O'Brien will take a seat on Wednesday after drawing into the lineup for Monday's game in New Jersey. Michael Carcone will re-enter the lineup in his place.
Michael Carcone will replace O'Brien on Wednesday. O'Brien has played in two of four games for Utah HC so far this season, recording one shot on goal and 10 hits.
Michael Carcone will be a healthy scratch on Monday afternoon, allowing O'Brien to draw back into the lineup to draw back into the lineup. The hard-hitting O'Brien has not played since Utah's season opener, when he tallied one shot and seven hits in 10:30 time-on-ice.
Michael Carcone will make his season debut on Thursday, resulting in O'Brien being a healthy scratch. On Tuesday, O'Brien played 10:30 time-on-ice, recording a +1 plus/minus, one shot on goal, and seven hits. He had 14 points (5G / 9A), 153 penalty minutes, and 229 hits in 75 games last season.
