The Vancouver Canucks have locked in a key piece of their blue line for another season. On Tuesday, the team announced it has re-signed veteran defenseman Derek Forbort to a one-year contract extension worth $2 million AAV. The 32-year-old was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after playing last season on a $1.5 million deal.
In his first season with Vancouver, Forbort provided steady defensive play, recording 2 goals and 11 points in 54 games while averaging 17:06 of ice time. He also registered 65 hits and 77 blocked shots, emerging as a reliable penalty killer—especially important after the team lost Ian Cole in free agency last summer.
“Bringing Derek back for another season is an important move for our group,” said GM Patrik Allvin. “His strong defensive play and solid work on the penalty kill really helped solidify our back end this past year. Derek has a strong voice in the room and some impressive leadership qualities, and we will look to him to help our team continue to grow and improve this coming season.”
Forbort enters his 11th NHL season with 550 games under his belt, having played for the Kings, Flames, Jets, Bruins, and now the Canucks. He’s expected to surpass both the 1,000-hit (currently 923) and 1,000-block (currently 936) marks next season—a testament to his physical, stay-at-home style.
He’ll join a reshaped Canucks defense in 2025–26 that includes top prospect Tom Willander, a full season of Elias Pettersson (D) after a breakout rookie year, and of course, captain Quinn Hughes. With Forbort’s return, Vancouver now has seven defensemen under contract, adding experience and toughness to a blue line still evolving.
📊 POLL: Smart Move or Cap Space Waste?
How do you feel about the Canucks bringing Derek Forbort back for one more year at $2 million?
- Great deal – Veteran depth and penalty killing at a fair price..
2. Meh – He’s solid, but they could’ve gone younger or cheaper
3. Overpay – Not worth $2M for limited offense and aging legs
.Cast your vote and tell us what you think in the comments below…
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