Sounds like Forbort is as good as gone for Vancouver Canucks
Western Family and the Vancouver Canucks have teamed up to create Bar Down Blast – a limited-edition treat featuring vanilla ice cream swirled with blue ripple and caramel-filled mini chocolatey pucks.
It appears Derek Forbort will be playing for a new team next season.
Forbort can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and the 33-year-old Vancouver Canucks defenceman is likely to test free agency, according to CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal. That’s not a good sign if you were hoping the 6-foot-4 blueliner would re-sign in Vancouver.
“Canucks have shown interest in trying to get Forbort back, but I’m hearing as of now he most likely will hit the market,” Dhaliwal said during an interview with Mike Halford and Jason Brough on Sportsnet 650 Friday morning.
Forbort was a good value signing by the Canucks last summer, earning just $1.5-million on a one-year contract. The Minnesota native appeared in 54 games, scoring 11 points (2-9-11) and averaging 17:06 of ice time.
While certainly not flashy or offensive-minded, Forbort was an important member of Vancouver’s penalty kill, which was ranked third-best in the NHL last season.
Losing Forbort could open the door for Elias Pettersson, the 21-year-old defenceman, to have an increased role. “D-Petey” showed a lot of potential in 28 games with the Canucks last season, but the left-handed defender did so mostly playing on the right side.
Will the Canucks keep a spot open on the left side for the 21-year-old, or is it too soon to rely on the young rearguard?
Forbort is one of four pending unrestricted free agents the Canucks have to consider, to go with Brock Boeser, Pius Suter, and Noah Juulsen.
The Canucks haven’t shown much interest in re-signing Boeser, but perhaps there’s still a chance with Suter. Dhaliwal said he expects the team will “take another shot” at signing the 28-year-old Swiss centre.