Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Derek Forbort to One-Year Contract
The Vancouver Canucks are keeping some consistency in their blue line heading into next season by re-signing veteran defenseman Derek Forbort to a one-year contract worth $2 million. The deal was officially announced by the team and helps solidify their defensive group for the upcoming campaign.
While Forbort’s return is unlikely to disrupt the current defensive roster too heavily, his re-signing may signal the end of Noah Juulsen’s time with the organization. With this deal, the Canucks now have seven defensemen under contract through the 2025-26 season. This includes emerging talents such as Victor Mancini and Elias Pettersson (not to be confused with the forward of the same name).
Forbort met expectations during his first season with the Canucks, providing reliable defensive play despite being limited to 54 games due to injuries. He chipped in offensively more than usual, recording two goals and 11 points—making it one of his more productive seasons in terms of points per game across his 10-year NHL career. Despite that, Forbort missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.
Looking ahead, Forbort is still seen as a valuable defensive presence, especially if the Canucks make a move to bring in a right-shot defenseman. He would be a natural fit alongside Tyler Myers on the third pairing. Both are sizable, experienced players who focus on defensive responsibilities. Forbort’s ability to protect the puck and limit scoring chances is backed by his 46.4% CorsiFor percentage and an on-ice save percentage of 90.6% at even strength last season.
However, bringing Forbort back doesn’t solve Vancouver’s most pressing issue: their underwhelming offense. While the Canucks had a strong penalty kill and maintained a respectable goals-against average, their inability to consistently produce offensively ultimately led to disappointment.
Now that the defense is largely set, the Canucks are expected to turn their attention toward reshaping the forward group this offseason. Bolstering scoring depth will likely be a top priority as the team looks to build off its defensive stability and push for a more successful postseason run next year.
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