The former Boston Bruins defenceman, 32-year-old Derek Forbort has officially signed a new contract with the Vancouver Canucks for one year at a $1.5 million AAV.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenceman Derek Forbort on a 1-year contract worth $1.5M.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) July 1, 2024
The Official Signing of Defenceman Derek Forbort Signifies a Change in His Future.
After completing his three-year, $9 million contract signed in the 2021 NHL Offseason, the 32-year-old faced injury challenges that affected his position on the Bruins’ depth chart. Despite appearing in only 35 games this season and posting modest stats, it was obvious that Forbort was likely to attract interest in the offseason due to his size and physicality, qualities highly valued by teams.
Forbort faced numerous injuries during the 2023–24 season. He was placed on LTIR on December 7, 2023, and made his return on January 20, 2024, playing against the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately, Forbort suffered another injury on March 2 during a game against the New York Islanders, leading to another placement on LTIR. Despite expectations of missing the remainder of the season due to surgery, Forbort surprised everyone by recovering quickly and practicing regularly with the team during the Bruins first round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although he did not play in that series, he made his comeback in Game 1 of the next round against the Florida Panthers after the Bruins defeated the Leafs in seven games.
How this Forbort Contract Will Make an Impact to His New Team
It is crucial to acknowledge that as Forbort continues on his journey in the NHL having played for the Los Angeles Kings, the Boston Bruins, the Calgary Flames, and the Winnipeg Jets. In addition, his imposing physical presence as a 6’4″, 208-pound defenceman remains intact. He possesses the ability to deliver powerful hits, consistently reaching triple-digit figures over the course of a full season. Undoubtedly, this attribute has captured the attention of numerous teams during the free agency period.
Provided that Forbort maintains his health, his inclusion in the team will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable asset. The Boston organization extends their best wishes to him, hoping for a successful tenure ahead.
Main photo credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
