Before signing with the Bruins this summer, Derek Forbort had played six NHL seasons and had topped 55 games in four of them. The 6-foot-4, defense-first defenseman had never scored more than two goals in any of them.
Through 14 games with the Bruins, Forbort has already scored four times, including twice in Saturday night’s 5-2 win over the Flyers, his first career two-goal game.
Forbort’s newfound goal-scoring prowess is the weirdest and most unexpected development of this Bruins season so far. Anyone who says they thought Forbort might have this in him is lying, but the Bruins are sure glad he's had it.
Even when Forbort was a first-round pick out of the U.S. National Team Development Program way back in 2010, it was the defensive side of his game that was considered his biggest strength. There was some thought that he could develop into a more offensive player at some point, but it never really panned out.
Forbort had six goals across three seasons at the University of North Dakota, then five in two years with the AHL Manchester Monarchs before making his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in 2015.
The Bruins did not sign him for offense. They signed him because they believed the left side of their defense needed a bigger, physical, defense-first presence. Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly and possibly Jakub Zboril were the left-shot D who were going to help out offensively.
Yet, it’s now Forbort who leads all Bruins defensemen in goals this season. Charlie McAvoy (3) is the only other Boston blue-liner who has more than one.
Among defensemen who have played at least 10 games this season, Forbort’s 0.29 goals per game are tied for fifth among all NHL defensemen, behind only Cale Makar, Dougie Hamilton, Roman Josi and Erik Karlsson.
Now, before we get too carried away, it’s worth noting that Forbort is due for some major shooting regression. His career shooting percentage coming into this year was 2.2%. His shooting percentage this season is now 23.5%. His first goal of the season should have been an easy save, and his first goal Saturday night deflected in off a defender’s stick.
But while there was certainly some luck involved in those goals, Forbort did what defensemen are supposed to do in those situations: He got his shot through to the net from the point. Sometimes that seemingly simple play, which is often easier said than done, leads to lucky breaks.
Forbort’s other two goals, including his second on Saturday, were legitimately good offensive plays, with real finishes. Eleven days ago, he took advantage of open ice in front of him and took the puck all the way to the net before roofing a shot. On Saturday, with the game tied 2-2 late in the second, Forbort jumped into the rush as the trailer, took a pass from Craig Smith, carried into the high slot, picked his spot, and again scored high-glove.
On a team that tends to over-pass at times, coach Bruce Cassidy preaches shooting when it’s your turn to do so. Basically: If the shot’s there, take it. At the very least, Forbort has done that.
While it’s fun to make “FOrrbOrrt” and/or “Scorebort” jokes, the reality, of course, is that Forbort isn’t suddenly some offensive dynamo. He’s not going to keep scoring once every three and a half games. There are still longer-term questions about his defensive game and his fit next to McAvoy on the top pairing as well (although it's worth pointing out that Forbort has been on the ice for zero five-on-five goals against in the last three games).
But let’s also acknowledge reality, and the reality is that Forbort has now scored four pretty important goals for the Bruins this season. Saturday’s second gave the Bruins the lead and proved to be the game-winner. His first two goals of the season both came in one-goal wins.
The debates around Forbort’s play and his contract are probably going to return at some point, but for now it’s worth appreciating this out-of-nowhere outburst of goals that has given the Bruins something to feel good about.