Derek Forbort

Lore & Background

Forbort played his junior season of high school hockey for Duluth East High School in 2008–09, finishing with 28 points in 21 games, and was named a regional All-Star. He completed the season by playing nine games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played his first full season with the USNTDP in 2009–10, scoring 4 goals and 14 points in 26 USHL league games, and 25 points overall in 56 games with the development team. He then began his freshman season for the University of North Dakota for the 2010–11 season. He played with the American team at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, recording two assists and a +9 rating, en route to winning a gold medal.

Reader's Guide

Forbort was highly regarded by scouts and was projected to become a two-way defenseman in the NHL. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Forbort as the ninth best North American skater for the 2010 NHL entry draft, an improvement on his midterm ranking of 11th. International Scouting Services named him tenth overall. Expected to be a first round selection, Forbort was taken 15th overall by the Los Angeles Kings. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on April 5, 2013. He made his NHL debut on October 16, 2015, against the Minnesota Wild and recorded his first NHL goal in a 5–0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on December 28. In the 2016–17 season, his second with the Kings, Forbort made the opening roster and recorded 18 points in 82 games. On February 24, 2020, Forbort was dealt by the Kings at the NHL trade deadline to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2021 conditional fourth-round pick. As a free agent, Forbort signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on October 11, 2020. In the pandemic delayed season, Forbort appeared in every game for the Jets on the blueline, contributing with 2 goals and 12 points in 56 regular season games. On July 28, 2021, Forbort left at the conclusion of his contract with the Jets to sign a three-year, $9 million contract with the Boston Bruins as a free agent. He scored his first goal as a Bruin on October 24, 2021, against the San Jose Sharks. During the 2022–23 season, Forbort, after scoring 5 goals for the first time in his career, suffered an injury in a game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 16, 2023, but returned for the playoffs. In the 2023–24 season, Forbort battled many injuries. On December 7, 2023, Forbort was placed on LTIR. He returned on January 20, 2024, against the Montreal Canadiens. However, Forbort was injured in a March 2 contest against the New York Islanders, and a few days later, was once again placed on LTIR. The injury would require surgery, and Forbort was expected to miss the rest of the season. However, during the Bruins first round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Forbort started practicing regularly with the team, progressing and recovering much quicker than was expected. Although he would not play during the series against the Leafs, the Bruins would defeat the Leafs in seven games, and Forbort would make his return in Game 1 of the following round, against the Florida Panthers. Leaving the Bruins after three seasons, Forbort was signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2024.

Did You Know?

• Forbort was selected 15th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
• He played for the US national team at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning a bronze medal.
• He appeared in every game for the Jets in the 2020–21 season, recording 2 goals and 12 points in 56 games.