[Trade] Flames acquire Derek Forbort (25% retained) from LA for a cond 2021 4th

[TheScorpion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1232050353375338496

conditions are related to playoff success/Calgary re-signing Forbort

[Canada 02]

back issues limited his use this season; previous season's he has played huge minutes, second only to Pouty on the Kings blueline

[Flamenspiel]

I think that the Flames felt that with the recent play of Mangiapane, Dube, and Sam Bennett that defence became a more urgent need. Certainly it looked like Brad drew the line at 3rd round pick and was not willing to give up more.

They can have a look at the 4 UFA defencemen and decide who to keep for next year. I believe they will definitely sit Valamaki and attempt to sign Taylor Hall in the off season.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Lots of anger over picking up a quality defensive d-man for a 4th round pick NEXT year. I think that's kind of funny.

Look, this isn't anything to get too excited about, but this is also a quality NHL player that knows how to play defense while adding some size on the back end that we desperately need (6-4, 219 lbs). I don't know how good he will be for us since he's just coming off a big injury, but I know this much is true:

He's going to be much better for us than Zach Bogosian would have been.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Lots of anger over picking up a quality defensive d-man for a 4th round pick NEXT year. I think that's kind of funny.

Look, this isn't anything to get too excited about, but this is also a quality NHL player that knows how to play defense while adding some size on the back end that we desperately need (6-4, 219 lbs). I don't know how good he will be for us since he's just coming off a big injury, but I know this much is true:

He's going to be much better for us than Zach Bogosian would have been.

Yes apparently Forbert is very mobile, whereas Bogosian is not mobile at all, but he is tough.

I never noticed Forbert, that's probably a good thing.

[TheScorpion]

I didn't realize until just now how physical Forbort plays. He racks up a ton of hits. I was under the impression that he was more of a Fantenberg type.

I've said a few times that the Flames sorely miss Deryk Engelland. He could do it all on the back-end. He was physical but could also eat a ton of minutes.

So... colour me cautiously optimistic. At first, the optics didn't look good (another depth dman trade with the Kings? really?) and I'm definitely still skeptical.

But if this guy can provide some of the elements that Engelland did... sign me up for that.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I didn't realize until just now how physical Forbort plays. He racks up a ton of hits. I was under the impression that he was more of a Fantenberg type.

I've said a few times that the Flames sorely miss Deryk Engelland. He could do it all on the back-end. He was physical but could also eat a ton of minutes.

So... colour me cautiously optimistic. At first, the optics didn't look good (another depth dman trade with the Kings? really?) and I'm definitely still skeptical.

But if this guy can provide some of the elements that Engelland did... sign me up for that.

With Hamonic out, the only rough and tumble D man the Flames have is Stone. A big part of the reason the Flames have struggled in their own zone is that they get pushed around in their own corners a lot.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I was under the impression that he was more of a Fantenberg type.

A lot of people wrote him off as that sort of thing immediately, it has been pretty funny to see. Somehow people seem to think this is the kind of guy you add via waivers.

Don't get super excited for him but he's a solid quality player, addressed a big time need, and we added for dirt cheap. Anyone getting upset needs to give their heads a shake

[SuperMatt18]

Thought I was posting this here but it was the Brandon Davidson thread...

Plus I think the value is fine. Here are two L.A Kings D-men at 5v5 over the last three seasons:

Player A:

TOI: 3121
CF%: 48.0%
HDCF%: 47.5%
xGF%: 46.8%
Zone Starts: 48.1%
Goals: 12
Points: 30

Player B:
TOI: 3020
CF%: 48.4%
HDCF%: 47.3%
xGF%: 46.7%
Zone Starts: 45.4%
Goals: 3
Points: 31

Player A is Alec Martinez and cost the Knights two second round picks. Player B is Derek Forbort and he cost the Flames a 4th.

He's not going to be a gamebreaker, but he's an improvement on Stone/Davidson and it's not bad value.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by btimbit

A lot of people wrote him off as that sort of thing immediately, it has been pretty funny to see. Somehow people seem to think this is the kind of guy you add via waivers.

Don't get super excited for him but he's a solid quality player, addressed a big time need, and we added for dirt cheap. Anyone getting upset needs to give their heads a shake

Count me as part of that group, I think I'm definitely guilty of not really doing much homework on Forbort. I think my perception of him was also slightly affected by his injury, which caused a reduction in his ATOI. But hey, overreactions are part of being a fan sometimes.

I just hope he doesn't wind up in the press box, which is where Davidson, the guy he's likely replacing, would have been anyway. That's where I start to feel like an asset has been wasted.

[sureLoss]

per cap friendly LA retains 25% of Forbort's salary

[blankall]

The Flames have done a great job improving their physical presence: Forbort and Lucic are solid additions in that regard. Both would have led last year's team in hits. There's also Rinaldo as a deterrent too.

If only Johnny and Monahan can learn how to play again, the Flames might actually surprise some people. It's actually really disappointing that Johnny, with all the physical players to protect him, isn't playing more confidently.

[TheScorpion]

TBH I think Johnny has been much, much better over the last 2-3 weeks

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

TBH I think Johnny has been much, much better over the last 2-3 weeks

Agreed.

I think there were times earlier this year where Monahan looked to be skating better and his 200ft game was better, but it was Johnny that was missing.

These last couple weeks I feel like Monahan's game has regressed, especially in his own zone, but that Gaudreau has shown flashes of the spark that he had previously.

I really hope both can figure it out at the same time at some point this season.

[Abatedmean]

Could you imagine Forbort paired with Yelesin? That would be quite the truculent line.

While we still have the injuries,

Han - Raz
Brodie - Gusta
Forb - Yelesin

This does however throw Kylington out of the lineup which I do not like. However it also hopefully takes stone out. Like Stone but think he can be imporved. Bigger question is what is the absolute best lineup we can put out?

Gio - Brodie
Han - Raz
Forb/Kylington - Yelesin

Anyone have any other ideas? I guess i just really like the idea of having Yelesin and Forb on the same pair together for the playoffs, getting there? Hm.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Wes Gilbertson @WesGilbertson
Conditions on 2021 fourth-rounder in Derek Forbort trade — if #Flames make conference final this spring and he plays half the games, becomes a third in 2022. Or if he re-signs in Calgary, becomes a third in 2022.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Abatedmean

Could you imagine Forbort paired with Yelesin? That would be quite the truculent line.

While we still have the injuries,

Han - Raz
Brodie - Gusta
Forb - Yelesin

This does however throw Kylington out of the lineup which I do not like. However it also hopefully takes stone out. Like Stone but think he can be imporved. Bigger question is what is the absolute best lineup we can put out?

Gio - Brodie
Han - Raz
Forb/Kylington - Yelesin

Anyone have any other ideas? I guess i just really like the idea of having Yelesin and Forb on the same pair together for the playoffs, getting there? Hm.

Forbert's spent the last few years covering for Doughty defensively so I'd like to see him tried with Gustaffson first

Gio - Brodie
Hanifin - Andersson
Forbert - Gustaffson

[mrdonkey]

Kings fans seem happy just to be rid of this guy.

[FlamesAreOne]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Kings fans seem happy just to be rid of this guy.

Tanking.

[shadowlord]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

TBH I think Johnny has been much, much better over the last 2-3 weeks

I saw JG backchecking in the Detroit game, racing back on a DET rush and passing several DET players in the process... and I was like - who is that guy?!

He's definitely making an effort defensively and it's good to see.