A former Vancouver Canucks defenceman has found a new opportunity.

According to the Calgary Wranglers’ X account, they have signed defenceman Derek Forbort to an American Hockey League Professional Tryout Contract.

Forbort began his Canucks tenure in 2024-25, signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract on July 1, 2024. The 6’4″ defenceman played the first three games of that season before missing three games due to the loss of his father. He returned to practice but suffered a knee injury that kept him out for four more games. Forbort returned in early November, suiting up in one game before injuring the same knee.

He returned to the Canucks lineup in mid-December, playing in 49 consecutive games and playing a major role in turning around the penalty kill to one of the league’s best. In Game 80 of the season, Forbort stuck up for a teammate and got in a fight with Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin. Trenin landed a cheap shot while Forbort lay on the ice, breaking his orbital bone and ending his season.

Vancouver valued Forbort’s penalty killing and veteran presence, extending him to another one-year, $2 million contract for the 2025-26 season. He fully recovered from his orbital injury and attended Canucks training camp. He played the first two games of the season but was given the next game off due to what was described as “maintenance.” Little did fans know that “maintenance” would result in Forbort being placed on injured reserve four days later and missing the rest of the regular season.

After the Los Angeles Kings drafted him 15th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, Forbort has bounced around teams throughout his 11-year NHL career. He has played with the Kings, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Canucks, and now back in the Flames organization for his second stint.

The 34-year-old will now compete for a roster spot on the Wranglers with Michael Benning, Axel Hurtig, Abram Weibe, Kent Anderson, Jake Livingstone, Kyle Walker, Tyson Fiest, and Hunter Brzustewicz on the blueline.