Quoting: Newgod77
If he’s liability why does he get so many D zone starts? Griz gets shelters minutes and doesn’t play special teams. I’m sure you know more than the coaches
Again, just because a coach uses a player in a certain way, it doesn't mean the player is doing well in that situation. Coaches regularly take bad decisions and it is why they eventually get fired. If not, why do they lose their jobs if they know everything? I didn't say I know more, but assuming a coach is flawless/infaillible doesn't work. For Forbort, it's been evident after multiple seasons. He kills most offense as he isn't a good transition player or in o-zone and is inconsistent defensively at 5v5. On top of that, he has dragged down nearly every partner he's had while playing in a great defensive system. The team get outshot, outchanced and outplayed with him on the ice.
Sheltered or optimized, it's all about perspective. I'd argue Grzelcyk is the latter as they keep him for offensive situations and playing with McAvoy (a really good pairing). Sure, he struggles against bigger players but, overall, there's more positive value than negative. He was coming of his shoulder surgery last season although I'd argue, he should play more this season. Grzelcyk does not but, he can play on special teams. That's an important distinction. They have the depth to not require his services although McAvoy's fit on PP1 has been questionable and Lindholm hasn't been good either on the PP so giving #48 a look should be option. As for the PK, he averaged a minute in 2019-20 and did well so they could probably use him on the PK too + most of the players and their strategies/structure is great.
Forbort, on the other hand, is sheltered. He's played 3rd pair minutes against bottom-6 competition for the most part of the 2 seasons. He was fine while playing with Clifton in 2021-22 but, that pair didn't work last season and ultimately, it left no partner for Forbort. They stuck with it, they just kept winning and preserving Lindholm/McAvoy health was important so it was okay to keep him in the regular season. Unsurprisingly, he was bad in the playoffs and they scratched Clifton and Grzelcyk, who was one of the few decent D. This isn't to mention Grzelcyk and Orlov having to play on their weak-side to accommodate Forbort when both are more effective on the left. In the best-case scenario, he played 3rd pairs mins against easy competition with a good partner in great D system yet he's just okay/playable. That's sheltering.
I won't even talk about the contract. 3 good PK minutes for 12-16 mediocre/poor EV minutes, his lack of versatility and his cap hit in a flat cap era, sounds like a bad trade to me but, if they want to keep going with it as there's no chance at a good 1st round pick or the Cup, so be it.