Ex-Bruins Defenseman Leaves New Team For Personal Reasons

The Vancouver Canucks will be without the services of a veteran defenseman for an uncertain amount of time.

Former Boston Bruins blue liner Derek Forbort has left the team for personal reasons, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced on Thursday. No other details were given for Forbort’s unexpected leave and there is no set timetable for a return.

Forbort appeared in three games for the Canucks, recording one assist in those contests, and is one game shy of 500 in his career.

After three seasons with the Bruins, Forbort signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Canucks over the offseason, joining Boston teammates Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen. He tallied nine goals and 21 assists across 165 games with the Bruins. He was considered one of the Bruins’ best shutdown defensemen on the penalty kill during his tenure with the franchise, but injuries derailed his playing time in Boston.

The 32-year-old Minnesota native was drafted 15th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings and spent five seasons with the club before being traded to the Calgary Flames in February 2020 in exchange for a 2021 conditional fourth-round pick. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign, Forbort signed as a free agent with the Winnipeg Jets. He has 17 goals and 79 assists in 499 career games.

In Forbort’s place, the Canucks have recalled defenseman Erik Brannstrom from their American Hockey League Affiliate the Abbotsford Canucks.