Coyotes' Liam O'Brien listed as week-to-week with upper-body injury

The Arizona Coyotes announced that forward Liam O’Brien is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury that he suffered last Friday during the team’s game versus the Vegas Golden Knights.

Largely a career AHLer, O’Brien has worked his way into a full-time NHL role with the Coyotes this season as one of the few enforcers left in the league. Getting into 37 games with Arizona this year, easily a career-high, O’Brien has two goals and an assist for three points. He leads the league with 106 penalty minutes.

With O’Brien out, it’s likely a chance for veteran Riley Nash to get into the lineup on a more frequent basis as the team tries to showcase him ahead of the trade deadline. Claimed off waivers earlier in the season, Nash has two assists in 41 NHL games this year.

It could also be an opportunity for the team’s youngsters such as Jan Jenik or Ben McCartney to earn another call-up from AHL Tucson as the team tries to evaluate which prospects could make the NHL full-time in 2022-23.