Suspension coming? Vancouver Canucks upset after Forbort injured on dirty play
The Vancouver Canucks weren’t happy after Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss against the Minnesota Wild.
The team lost Derek Forbort to injury in the third period after the 33-year-old was sucker-punched by Wild winger Yakov Trenin. It was an ugly scene which rightfully had multiple Canucks visibly upset during their postgame media availabilities.
Trenin, who plays with a physical edge, dropped the gloves with Forbort. The two had a spirited bout, and when they hit the ground, one of the linesmen tied up Forbort’s arm. Instead of stopping, Trenin wound up and landed another punch on the defenceless Canucks blueliner.
The blow hit Forbort right in the head, and he was clearly in pain right away. He stayed lying on the ice for some time before going right down the tunnel with the help of the training staff. He didn’t return to the game.
Yakov Trenin received a game misconduct after landing a late punch on Derek Forbort while he was on the ice.
Forbort went to the dressing room following the altercation. pic.twitter.com/xuiymKJFLg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2025
“I didn’t like it at all,” said Marcus Pettersson postgame. “I think it was one of the dirtiest things I’ve seen, so we’ll see what the league does. Hopefully, he’s okay. I haven’t seen him. That was a scary, scary punch, and I didn’t like it at all.”
Head coach Rick Tocchet didn’t waste words and just said he agreed with Pettersson’s message. Tocchet didn’t have an update on how Forbort was doing.
It’s been a long season for Forbort, who has dealt with his dad’s passing and numerous injuries, which have kept him to just 53 games. When in the lineup, the veteran has been a steady presence and one of the league’s best penalty killers.
“Scary,” said Jake DeBrusk about the incident. “He’s probably one of my best buddies on this team, and he’s gone through so much this year…it’s one of those things where you see blood and that, and you see the replay, it just looks ugly. I really hope he’s okay.”
Trenin was taken to the penalty box before being awarded a game misconduct. He was eventually given five minutes for fighting, two for instigating, and the misconduct. The Canucks didn’t get a power play, as Teddy Blueger also got a minor penalty for hitting Trenin with his stick from the bench.
When skating off the ice, Trenin started yelling at the Canucks, the referees, and made a big scene. He appeared to be very upset.
Yakov Trenin was NOT happy with the referee's decision š³ pic.twitter.com/EGueqUqYpp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2025
“I didn’t see the shot,” said Quinn Hughes. “But they said it was a five, so apparently it was pretty dirty, and I don’t know what he was doing, the circus act, after getting kicked out.”
The Canucks and Wild don’t meet again this season, but the rematch against Trenin will definitely be circled on the calendar next year.