The Vancouver Canucks have announced that defenceman is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons, a significant setback for the team as they prepare for their second game of a three-game road trip against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
With the puck about to drop, the Canucks made the roster announcement, confirming that Forbort would be stepping away from the team. In response to this unexpected situation, Vancouver has recalled defenceman Erik Brannstrom from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks to fill Forbort’s spot on the NHL roster.
General Manager Patrik Allvin stated, “Derek Forbort has left the team for personal reasons, and we have recalled Erik Brannstrom from Abbotsford.”
Brannstrom, 25, joined the Canucks from the Colorado Avalanche just before the start of the 2024-25 season, traded in exchange for defenceman Tucker Poolman (with 20% of his salary retained) and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. In his recent two games with Abbotsford, the native of Eksjö, Sweden, excelled, recording three assists, two penalty minutes, and a plus-three rating, demonstrating his readiness for NHL action.
Derek Forbort signed a one-year contract with the Canucks on July 1 for a salary of $1.5 million. So far this season, he has tallied one assist and two penalty minutes over three games but carries a minus-one rating.
The organization and fan base are rallying around Forbort during this difficult time, hoping for his swift return to the team as they navigate this challenging situation.
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