Boston Bruins Sign Derek Forbort To Three-Year, $9 Million Contract

As speculated by Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Boston Bruins did indeed sign defenseman Derek Forbort. Just after free agency kicked off at noon ET, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reported that the B’s had signed the rugged, 6-foot-4, 219-pound unrestricted free agent to a three-year, $9 million contract.

Confirming Derek Forbort signs with the Bruins for three years/$9 million. Averaged 2:43 SH ice time per game last year.

— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) July 28, 2021

Forbort, 29, spent the 2021 NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year contract that carried a $1 million cap hit. The new Boston Bruins rearguard had two goals and ten assists in 56 games. Forbort averaged 20:45 TOI per game, had 115 blocked shots and 80 hits. As Shinzawa pointed out, he also averaged 2:43 TOI on the penalty kill. He definitely fulfills what team President Cam Neely and GM Don Sweeney were looking for after watching their depleted and small blue line get manhandled by the Islanders in the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“For some reason or another, we get banged up. I think our D this year had maybe eight concussions, which is something I don’t know how to combat,” Neely said back on June 15. “But that position is something that we’ve been looking [at] for a while. Hopefully, we can do something to grab someone that’s going to help maybe plays 20 minutes a game for us.”

Per our friends at PuckPedia, here’s the official breakdown of the three-year, $9 million contract Forbort signed with the Boston Bruins Wednesday.

The #NHLBruins signed 29 y/o LD Derek Forbort for 3 years $3M cap Hit per @FriedgeHNIC @frank_seravalli

2G 12P in 56GP

Rep'd by Ben Hankinson @OctagonHockey https://t.co/vq7wzIytZt

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 28, 2021

As reported by my colleague Joe Haggerty, the Boston Bruins were in on UFA forward Ryan Getzlaf but the longtime Anaheim Ducks center stayed in the OC, signing a one-year contract.

As of 2:35 PM ET, here was the official list of Boston Bruins till on the UFA market:

Paul Carey, David Krejci (reportedly set to re-sign with Bruins), Greg McKegg, Tuukka Rask, Mike Reilly (reportedly re-signed), Jarred Tinordi.

Sweeney is scheduled to address the media at approximately 5 PM ET.