Story Summary
Derek Forbort has been released from his tryout with the Calgary Wranglers without appearing in a game for the club. The 34-year-old American defensive defenceman, an NHL veteran, had joined Calgary’s farm team after becoming a free agent during the summer.
Forbort’s availability followed an injury-disrupted previous season in which he played only two games. He later described a difficult spell with hip trouble that ultimately required surgery to repair a labral injury.
Key Facts
- Derek Forbort was released from his tryout with the Calgary Wranglers without playing a game for the club.
- Forbort is a 34-year-old American defensive defenceman and NHL veteran.
- Forbort became a free agent during the summer after an injury-hit season in which he played two games.
- Forbort said his hip problems began before training camp and were initially managed with a cortisone injection.
- Forbort underwent hip surgery to repair a labral injury after rehabilitation and other treatments did not resolve the problem.
IHM Discussion
The Wranglers tryout gave Forbort an opportunity to return to a professional environment after a frustrating period of injury and rehabilitation, but it did not lead to a playing appearance or a place with Calgary’s farm club.
His account of the hip issue illustrates how prolonged the problem became. He was able to complete training camp after receiving a cortisone injection, but the effect wore off. A PRP injection in Toronto brought a strong reaction, and further rehabilitation efforts did not prevent the need for surgery. Forbort said he had been rehabilitating since the operation and hoped he might be able to play for a few more seasons, depending on how he felt.
Why It Matters
Forbort’s release leaves his playing future unresolved after a season heavily limited by injury. A large, defence-first defenceman with substantial NHL experience, he had been mentioned as a player who could attract interest from SHL clubs before the season, but the Calgary tryout ended before he could put game action on his record.
Mini Q&A
Why did Derek Forbort not play for the Calgary Wranglers?
Forbort was released from his tryout with the Wranglers before appearing in a game.
What injury issue has Derek Forbort been dealing with?
Forbort underwent surgery for a hip labral injury after a prolonged period of hip trouble, injections and rehabilitation.
Coach Mark Comment
The telling detail is that Forbort did not get into a single game with the Wranglers. A tryout normally gives a player some chance to show his timing and physical comfort in live shifts; without that, the hip rehabilitation remains the defining part of his recent hockey story.
After cortisone, PRP treatment, rehabilitation and surgery, simply getting back to a point where he can be evaluated in games is a significant hurdle for a 34-year-old defenceman.
IHM Final View
Forbort’s Calgary tryout has concluded without a game appearance, leaving the experienced defenceman without a club after a difficult period of hip problems. His own comments made clear that continuing his career depended on how his body responded following surgery and rehabilitation.