The Vancouver Canucks are expected to get defenceman Derek Forbort back in the coming days, according to a report from Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team.

Forbort took a leave of absence for “personal reasons” last week.

On Thursday morning, the Canucks sent defenceman Erik Brännström down to AHL Abbotsford along with forward Arshdeep Bains. Because the Canucks never took Forbort off the roster, this gives them two roster spots. Now, the Canucks could be using their two days off until Saturday vs. Pittsburgh as a chance to accrue some extra cap space, or they could decide that Forbort coming back simply means Brännström’s services are no longer needed at the NHL.

It would be a bit of a surprise for the Canucks to not recall Brännström, however, as head coach Rick Tocchet sang Brännström’s praises following Tuesday night’s game in Chicago. Tocchet highlighted the 25-year-old’s puck moving and skating ability, and called it the best of his three games as a Canuck.

Those three games, of course, only came after Forbort left the team for a personal matter that he’s now ready to return from. Forbort, 32, signed with the Canucks this past offseason on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. A left shot defenceman and veteran of 499 NHL games, Forbort has appeared in just three of the Canucks’ six games this season.

After a rocky Canucks debut alongside fellow newcomer Vincent Desharnais, Forbort settled in nicely for his next two games, and his work on the penalty kill was especially noticeable. Forbort figures to be a regular in the Canucks’ lineup, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Brännström’s spot in the lineup is gone, as Brännström has played the right side plenty already in his NHL career. He should at least be in the conversation to suit up alongside Forbort on the third pair with players like Noah Juulsen and Vincent Desharnais.

The Canucks welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Rogers Arena on Saturday after stringing together three straight road wins. Forbort’s return should be a welcome one against a veteran Penguins team.