The Winnipeg Jets have signed free agent left-handed defenceman Derek Forbort to a one-year, $1 million contract. The deal will carry Forbort through the 2020-21 NHL season.
The Winnipeg Jets are signing Derek Forbort. 1 year. $1 million.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 11, 2020
Derek Forbort Signs With the Winnipeg Jets
Forbort, who the Los Angeles Kings drafted in the 2010 draft with the 15th overall selection, split time last season with Los Angeles and the Calgary Flames. He was traded to the Flames at the trade deadline for a conditional fourth-round pick. Unfortunately for Forbort, he only played 20 NHL games last season, as he was sidelined for most of the year with an injury.
Forbort, a stay at home defender, has six goals and 47 assists for 53 points in 275 career games. This gives him a career average of about 16 points in a full 82 game season. Forbort’s numbers last season consisted of just one goal and one assist for a mere two points in 20 games.
In terms of possession, Forbort had a Corsi just shy of 50 percent, sitting right at 49.7 percent. His relative Corsi was -5.2 percent. Forbort only played 20 games last season though, so these possession numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.
In terms of ice time, last season Forbort averaged 17:49 minutes per game. He saw zero powerplay time but averaged 1:29 minutes on the penalty kill per game.
His Future Impact
The Jets continue to add depth as they look to get back to being a Stanley Cup contender. As far as impact goes, Forbort will be a solid depth defenseman for the Jets. At 28 years old, he seems to be a safe signing. He’s a reliable shutdown defender who can be counted on to block shots, lay hits, and win some puck battles. Ideally, he should play on the third pairing, but if needed, he could play a little higher up in the lineup, as he was Drew Doughty‘s partner for 37 percent of his games last season.
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