Sean Durzi thinks people are sleeping on a certain part of his game.
The Utah Hockey Club blueliner — who had 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 76 games last season — is known for his offensive flair and ability to jump up into the play. But, it’s his dedication to his defensive details that have made him such versatile asset for the team.
“I take pride in defense, too,” Durzi said. “A big part of our D-pair is going to be taking pride in shutting down other teams.”
Said D-pair is composed of Durzi and new Utah addition Ian Cole. The duo has shown good balance throughout training camp and debuted in game action Monday night at the Delta Center in Utah’s first preseason matchup on home ice.
“I think they have poise with the puck, they make good plays, they have a lot of composure out there,” head coach André Tourigny said. “I think [Cole] is a good veteran; you can see his positioning, his physicality. I think they talk a lot to each other. Their chemistry is really good so far.”
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole, front, works for the puck against Colorado Avalanche center Fredrik Olofsson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Durzi logged two assists in Monday’s 3-2 overtime win against the his former team the Los Angeles Kings, and looked more and more comfortable with his new partner as the game went on.
“He’s a great player. He was one of the top defensemen, certainly on this roster, last year,” Cole said. “I think for me and him it’s ironing out those reads, ironing out the communication and getting everyone on the same page.”
Last season in Arizona, Durzi carried much of the weight on a backend that did not have the right pieces to be solid on a nightly basis. The 25-year-old now has support from players like Cole in the room to lean on and learn from while remaining a core part of Utah’s future.
“Just an experienced player who makes it so much easier on myself and the team,” Durzi said of Cole. “Just knowing that I can trust him when I’m going back for a puck, listening for his voice, making the right play. It’s been pretty great so far.”
Cole signed a one-year contract with Utah in July in an effort to bring a heightened “winning culture” to the organization. The 35-year-old is entering his 15th season in the NHL and has made the playoffs for the past 14 consecutive years. Cole hoisted the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has earned his keep in the league by being a hard-nosed, physical and reliable player.
Most recently, Cole skated with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2023-24 season and was a driving force in the team’s first postseason appearance since 2020. He said he sees similarities between the position the Canucks were in last year, and where Utah stands now.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club player Sean Durzi, answers questions during media day at the Delta Center, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
“In terms of a team that has elite skill, a team that has probably underperformed over the past couple years and is really sick of losing hockey games and not playing come late April, May,” Cole said. “It’s that recipe that makes guys raise their competitiveness. ... And then you couple that with the inaugural season, a whole new thing. It could be a really exciting perfect storm.”
Durzi is part of the elite skill that Utah locked up during the offseason — he signed a four-year, $24 million contract extension after being traded to the Coyotes in June 2023 from the Kings.
Coming into his second season with the team, Durzi has the opportunity to allow his game to grow without the pressure of being a No. 1 defenseman at 25 years old. Having Cole as his partner spreads the responsibility, but it in no way means Durzi is slowing down.
“His reputation, everybody knows about his offense, but they don’t know how much he cares about defense and how hard he defends,” Tourigny said. “He’s very, very competitive. He cares about both sides of the puck. He wants to be the best at everything.”
