Shawn Darge signed a four-year contract with the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 25-year-old defenseman could become a restricted free agent at noon ET on Monday. He played in 76 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season, scoring an NHL career-high 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists).
“We are excited to have Sean join the Utah team for the next four years,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Sean is a reliable two-way defenseman who can be a cornerstone on the power play and run the offense from the blue line. He is a young, extremely talented defenseman with a very bright future, and we look forward to him becoming a core player in this organization.”
Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Durji has recorded 106 points (21 goals, 85 assists) in 212 regular season games with the Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings and four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 13 Stanley Cup playoff games. He was traded by the Kings to the Coyotes on June 24, 2023 in exchange for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Utah also acquired defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning and John Marino from the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 draft. The Lightning sent defenseman J.J. Moser and forward Connor Geekie, a 2024 seventh-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Utah traded this year's 49th pick and a 2025 second-round pick for Marino and the 153rd pick in 2024.
“We're certainly excited,” Utah coach Andre Turini said Saturday. “We're excited. [defense] “I definitely think this is a step in the right direction. I think we have two really good players.”
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report.
