• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Los Angeles Kings
Kings Transactions

Flames Acquire Forbort from Kings, Gustafsson from Blackhawks

By Declan Schroeder February 24th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Calgary Flames — in the heat of a tight battle for a Western Conference wild card spot — have added a pair of d-men, acquiring Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round pick and Erik Gustaffson from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick.

#Flames have acquired a pair of d-men. Erik Gustafsson from Chicago, Derek Forbort from LA. Sounds like conditional mid-round picks the asking price for both.

Both left shot d-men, both pending UFA’s.

— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) February 24, 2020

These additions should help to mitigate their depleted d-corp, with Mark Giordano coming back from injury and Travis Hamonic week-to-week with a facial fracture.

Forbort a Big Body for Flames’ Stretch Run

In Forbort, the Flames are getting a swift-skating, big-bodied blueliner who can log big minutes.

Derek Forbort Los Angeles Kings
the big-bodied Forbort will help shore up the Flames’ blue line as Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic are currently injured. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound product has spent his entire five year, 268-game career with the Kings, recording six goals and 53 points in the process while skating an average of 19:55 and dishing out 463 hits.

Forbort has been limited to 13 games this season due to a back injury and didn’t play until January. That may explain why the return to the Kings, who are in full-on sell mode and are stockpiling picks for June’s draft in Montreal, is so modest.

Related: Canucks Acquire Toffoli from Kings in Exchange for Schaller, Madden

Overall, it’s a low-risk trade for the Flames. Forbort, originally selected 15th overall in 2011, is on the last year of a two-year deal that pays him $2,525,000 annually and will be a UFA on July 1 if the Flames don’t re-sign him.

Gustafsson Has Offensive Upside

While not possessing Forbort’s frame, Erik Gustafsson is a deft puck-mover who can produce points from the back end in a third-pairing role. In 59 games this season, the left-handed Swede has six goals and 20 assists for 26 points.

Erik Gustafsson #56 of the Chicago Blackhawks
ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 05: Erik Gustafsson is an offensively-minded d-man who has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Originally selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, the 27-year-old has 28 goals and 88 assists for 116 points in 214 games and has skated an average of 20:02. The Blackhawks held him out of the lineup over their past two games, which indicated a trade was imminent.

Erik Gustafsson, acquired by CGY, is a pure offensive defenceman who is abysmal in his own end. He was much better the past two seasons. Could thrive in a sheltered role with a responsible partner. #Flames pic.twitter.com/lOEwR33kqy

— JFresh (@JFresh1999) February 24, 2020

He is in the last season of a two-year deal that pays him $1.2 million annually and like Forbort, will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Also like Forbort, it’s a low-risk deal as the Flames are sending only a third-round pick the other way.

The Flames currently occupy the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot with a 32-35-6 record — they are tied with the Arizona Coyotes with 70 points but have two games in hand. The Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators are knocking at the door with 69 points and 68 points, respectively, and that should make for an exciting finish in Calgary and elsewhere.

Calgary Flames Johnny Gaudreau Rasmus Andersson
The Flames have 70 points and currently occupy the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

The Blackhawks, at 27-27-8, have 62 points and are a long shot to make the playoffs.

  • Tags
  • 2020 NHL Trade Deadline
  • Derek Forbort
  • Erik Gustafsson
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 10:55 AM
Women's Hockey

Metropolitan Riveters 2021 Season Preview

Jan 19th 10:45 AM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Andersen, Marner, Spezza & Robertson

Jan 19th 10:35 AM
Philadelphia Flyers

Couturier’s Injury Results in Opportunity for Flyers’ Young Talent

Jan 19th 10:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Fans & Media Need to Give Drouin His Due

Jan 19th 10:15 AM
All-Star Weekend

1991 NHL All-Star Game & the Gulf War: The Modern NHL in a Time of War

Jan 19th 10:05 AM
Edmonton Oilers

4 Takeaways From the Oilers’ 3-1 Loss to the Canadiens

Jan 19th 9:55 AM
Los Angeles Kings

Kings’ Jeff Carter Playing Much Better After Surgery

Jan 19th 9:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Takeaways: Andersen’s Back, a New Marner and More D

Jan 19th 9:35 AM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Get Much-Needed Intangibles & Experience With Bonino

Jan 19th 9:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Look to Gain Momentum on California Road Trip

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information