Derek Forbort Bio
Derek Forbort (born March 4, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 219 pounds, he plays a left-handed shot and is recognized for his two-way game on the blue line. Over the course of his career, Forbort has suited up for the Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, and most recently the Canucks. He was originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
A product of the United States development system, Forbort has represented his country on the international stage and has gradually built a reputation as a dependable stay-at-home defenseman. His journey from Duluth, Minnesota, to the NHL reflects years of steady progress through elite amateur programs and the collegiate ranks.
Early Life and Background
Derek Forbort was born on March 4, 1992, in Duluth, Minnesota, a northern port city long known for producing talented hockey players. Growing up in this hockey-rich environment gave him early and frequent exposure to the sport, both at local rinks and through the broader community culture that surrounds the game in the Upper Midwest. The cold winters and strong youth programs in the region helped shape his early development as a defenseman.
He attended Duluth East High School, where he played his junior season of high school hockey in 2008–09. That year, he finished with 28 points in 21 games and was named a regional All-Star, signaling his potential well before the NHL Draft. Following that campaign, Forbort joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP), playing nine games in the United States Hockey League (USHL) to close out the season.
Forbort then committed to play his first full season with the USNTDP in 2009–10, where he recorded 4 goals and 14 points in 26 USHL league games, while finishing with 25 points overall in 56 games with the development team. That same year, he formally committed to the University of North Dakota men’s ice hockey program, setting the stage for his transition to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Path to Hockey
Forbort’s path to professional hockey accelerated when he was ranked among the top North American skaters eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau listed him as the ninth-best North American skater, an improvement from his midterm ranking of 11th, while International Scouting Services placed him tenth overall. Widely projected as a first-round selection, he was taken 15th overall by the Los Angeles Kings.
Before turning pro, Forbort also gained valuable international experience. He played for the United States at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he posted two assists and a +9 rating while helping the team capture a gold medal. The following winter, he represented his country at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York, earning a bronze medal.
On the collegiate side, Forbort began his freshman season with the University of North Dakota for the 2010–11 campaign, balancing his college commitments with his national-team duties. His combination of size, mobility, and hockey sense made him one of the most closely watched American defensemen of his draft class.
Derek Forbort Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
After being drafted 15th overall in 2010, Forbort continued his development with the University of North Dakota and later in the Kings’ system. On April 5, 2013, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings, officially launching his professional career. He spent his initial pro seasons primarily with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Kings’ top affiliate at the time.
In the 2014–15 season, Forbort received his first NHL recall on February 11, 2015, though he was returned to the Monarchs without appearing in a game. He used that year to refine his defensive game and prepare for full-time NHL duty the following season.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2015–2020)
Forbort made his long-awaited NHL debut on October 16, 2015, against the Minnesota Wild. He wasted little time making an impact at the highest level, recording his first NHL goal in a 5–0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on December 28 of that same season. Those early appearances helped establish him as a regular presence on the Kings’ blue line.
In the 2016–17 season, his second full year with the Kings, Forbort earned a spot on the opening roster and went on to play all 82 games, finishing with 18 points. His reliability on the back end was rewarded on October 19, 2017, when he signed a two-year contract extension with Los Angeles. The 2019–20 campaign, however, was derailed by injuries, and after a conditioning stint with the Ontario Reign, he appeared in just 14 games, recording a single assist. On February 24, 2020, the Kings traded him at the deadline to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2021 conditional fourth-round pick.
Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets Era (2020–2021)
Forbort’s time in Calgary was brief, and he became a free agent after the 2019–20 season. On October 11, 2020, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The 2020–21 NHL season was delayed due to the pandemic, but Forbort appeared in every game for the Jets on the blue line, contributing 2 goals and 12 points in 56 regular-season contests. His durability and steady defensive play made him a trusted piece of Winnipeg’s back end.
Boston Bruins Era (2021–2024)
On July 28, 2021, Forbort left Winnipeg 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, and quickly became a fixture on Boston’s defense. During the 2022–23 season, he scored 5 goals, the first time he reached that mark in his career, before suffering an injury in a March 16, 2023, game against the Winnipeg Jets. He recovered in time to return for the playoffs.
The 2023–24 season was a difficult one physically. Forbort was placed on long-term injured reserve on December 7, 2023, returned on January 20, 2024, against the Montreal Canadiens, and was injured again on March 2 against the New York Islanders. The injury required surgery, and he was expected to miss the rest of the regular season, but he recovered more quickly than anticipated. Although he did not play during Boston’s first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he returned in Game 1 of the following round against the Florida Panthers after the Bruins won that opening series in seven games.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2024–Present)
Following three seasons in Boston, Forbort signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent on July 1, 2024. The move brought him full circle in a way, as he had scored his first NHL goal years earlier against that same franchise. He joined a Canucks team looking to shore up its defensive depth with a veteran presence.
Driving Style and Strengths
Forbort is best known for his size, mobility, and defensive reliability. At 6 feet 4 inches, he uses his frame to win battles along the boards and in front of the net, while his left-handed shot and skating ability allow him to move the puck cleanly out of the defensive zone. Coaches have generally relied on him in a shutdown role, pairing him with more offensively inclined defensemen and trusting his positioning in his own end.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of the defining moments of Forbort’s career include his 2010 IIHF World U18 gold medal with the United States, his 2011 World Junior bronze medal, his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild, and his first NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks. Reaching 5 goals in a single season with Boston in 2022–23 also marked a personal milestone, as did his unexpected playoff return from surgery during the 2023–24 postseason.
Derek Forbort Career Wins
As a defenseman whose value is measured in steady play rather than goal totals, Forbort’s career highlights are spread across team achievements and individual milestones rather than lengthy win columns. He has been part of winning locker rooms in Los Angeles, Winnipeg, and Boston, and has contributed to deep playoff runs, including Boston’s first-round victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024.
Team and Tournament Highlights
Forbort’s most notable team success came early in his career, when he won a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the NHL level, he played all 82 games for the Kings in 2016–17, appeared in every game for the Jets during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, and was part of Bruins squads that reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his three years in Boston.
Other Performances
Beyond the NHL, Forbort produced a strong 28-point performance in 21 games during his final high-school season with Duluth East in 2008–09, and posted 25 points in 56 games during his first full year with the USNTDP in 2009–10. These junior and development numbers laid the foundation for his eventual professional career.
Derek Forbort Family
Family Background and Hockey Roots
Derek Forbort grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, a community where hockey is deeply woven into daily life. The region’s strong youth programs and dedicated coaching helped nurture his early growth as a player. His path from local rinks to the USNTDP and eventually the NHL reflects the kind of grassroots development that has long defined American hockey talent in the northern states.
Personal Life
Forbort maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his off-ice life and hockey journey. Beyond his playing career, he is widely regarded as a steady, team-first professional whose reputation has been built as much on character and consistency as on statistical output.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Derek Forbort is in the midst of his first season with the Vancouver Canucks after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract on July 1, 2024. His role with the Canucks centers on providing veteran defensive depth, penalty-killing responsibility, and a calming presence on the back end. Coaches have leaned on his experience from playoff runs in Boston as the team navigates a competitive Pacific Division.
Forbort’s performance in 2025 will be measured less by offensive numbers and more by his reliability in his own zone, his health after several injury-marred campaigns, and his ability to mentor younger defensemen on the Canucks roster. Staying available for a full 82-game schedule would itself represent an important rebound from the injury challenges that defined his time in Boston.
Looking ahead, Forbort’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 will depend on how he fits into the Canucks’ evolving defensive structure and whether he can deliver the kind of steady, two-way play that has characterized his career. A strong, healthy season could position him for another contract and extend a professional journey that began on the frozen ponds of Duluth more than two decades ago.