A former Vancouver Canucks blueliner has landed another chance to keep his career moving.
The Calgary Wranglers announced on X that they have signed Derek Forbort to an American Hockey League Professional Tryout Contract.
Forbort’s time in Vancouver began in 2024-25 when he signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal on July 1, 2024. The 6’4″ defenceman appeared in the first three games of the season, then missed three games after the death of his father.
He got back on the ice for practice, but a knee injury followed and sidelined him for four more games. Forbort returned in early November and played one game before the same knee issue knocked him out again.
He made it back into the Canucks’ lineup in mid-December and stayed there for 49 straight games, becoming a key part of a penalty kill that developed into one of the league’s best. His season ended in Game 80 after he fought Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin while defending a teammate. Trenin threw a cheap shot while Forbort was down, breaking Forbort’s orbital bone.
Vancouver clearly still valued what he brought on the kill and in the room, which led to another one-year deal worth $2 million for 2025-26. Forbort recovered fully from the orbital injury, attended Canucks training camp, and played the first two games of the season.
He then sat out the next game for what was described as “ maintenance.” Four days later, he was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the regular season.
Drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2010 NHL Draft, Forbort has spent 11 NHL seasons moving through the Kings, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Canucks, and now back in the Flames organization for his second stint.
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