4 Bruins Who Won't Return Next Season

3. Derek Forbort, D

Derek Forbort has been with the Bruins for the last three seasons, however, it's safe to say that the 2023-24 campaign was his worst with the franchise. Now that he's slated to become an unrestricted free agent, the writing could be on the wall for the former 2010 first-round selection.

Forbort suited up for just 35 games last season — the second-fewest amount since becoming an NHL regular in 2017. While injuries played a role in his missing time, the 32-year-old defender was also a healthy scratch on multiple occasions, showing that he's fallen out of favor in head coach Jim Montgomery's game planning.

Forbort didn't make the most out of his limited opportunities, registering just four assists in the regular season before going pointless in three playoff appearances. Although he isn't known for his offensive skills, he left much to be desired on defense, too. For example, the Bruins' goaltenders tallied a .901 save percentage when he was on the ice, noticeably down from last year's mark of .922.

The Duluth, MN native also recorded a 38.9 Corsi%, meaning that the opposition controlled the puck for over 60% of the time during his shifts. That's just not the kind of defenseman you want on your team when you're trying to chase a Stanley Cup.

At the end of the day, low-pairing D-men like Forbort are easily replaceable. Unless the Bruins see something in him that most fans don't, chances are he'll be playing in a different jersey next season.