Canucks welcome back defenseman following terrible personal news that sidelined him

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort has rejoined the team following the recent death of his father. The Canucks took to social media Monday morning to announce that he was ready to rejoin his teammates. His return comes at a poignant moment after the death of his father Keith Forbort on October 16th aged 62.

Forbort, who has played in 499 NHL games, had missed the last four Canucks matches during his absence. His return does pose questions as to how the team will fit him into the current lineup. The emergence of Erik Brannstrom on the blue line, for example, has made a notable difference as Brannstrom's puck-moving skills have substantially strengthened the third pairing. Brannstrom can play on the right side, so in time, this might be a promising partnership with experienced, steady-handed Forbort.

Early parts of Forbort's initial game with the Canucks proved tough, and it got even tougher with the pairing alongside Vincent Desharnais. However, it did not take long for him to find his groove. He looked much better defensively in his next couple of games, more precisely on the kill. That is when he was signed by the Canucks for his defensive dependability and penalty kill strength, and he showed that before his brief absence.

The Canucks inked the 32-year-old Forbort to a one-year, $1.5 million contract during this past offseason, and he will be huge moving forward. The Vancouver Canucks return to action against the Carolina Hurricanes after beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in their previous game. The Hurricanes are a tougher test than the one that the Penguins posed, so the Canucks will have to better prepare themselves. While Forbort is not likely to get on the ice immediately, he's a highly-anticipated return. With his next game action being his 500th NHL game, there's a lot of excitement regarding the next time he will suit up.

Whenever Derek Forbort does step back onto the ice, it promises to be a memorable moment. Reaching 500 NHL games is a significant milestone for any player and with the emotions of the past week still fresh, Forbort's return will carry extra significance. The Canucks will return home to play the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday before heading out on the road to face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday after playing the Hurricanes.