Mayors Manor is a hockey prospects blog that I read from time to time. Recently, I was checking out something that John Hoven had written about former Fighting Sioux defenseman Derek Forbort. The Former first-round draft choice left UND after three seasons scoring (6g-39a—45pts) in a 115 games. Forbort has yet to play a game in the NHL.
Each year, college hockey fans see their favorite players leave college early and sign a professional contract. Sometimes you have wonder what’s the rush? Many players that leave college early never make it to the NHL or play a limited number of games in the NHL.
Reading the post got me thinking. Is this one of the cases where staying in college might have been beneficial for the young Forbort? I guess we will never know. Thoughts?
- DEREK FORBORT: Defenseman, Manchester Monarchs (1st round pick in 2010, North Dakota)
After years of question marks, Forbort has cemented his spot near the top of our prospects list, and is one step away from being an NHL player. His transformation after just one year of pro hockey speaks volumes about his skills, as well as the impact the Kings Development Group can have on young players. Forbort now plays with much more poise. Criticized for his lack of a physical edge – specifically attributed to the fact he is 6-foot-4 – Forbort has found a nice balance between being a finesse defenseman and one who uses his great size to punish people at times. Don’t misread that comment. He is not a ‘crash and bang’ type player, but does not avoid contact either.
His positioning is strong and his transition game is top-notch. Scouts will often comment that he plays long and they are consistently impressed with his poke check. Offensively, Forbort will likely max out as a 30-point defenseman during the prime of his NHL career, but he isn’t completely devoid of offensive skill. More so, Forbort is shaping up to being someone who could possibly become a quiet leader – somebody who sets an example on the ice, battling hard, game in and game out. To completely round out his game, he’ll need to continue to remain poised in pressure situations. After making a bad decision, Forbort occasionally becomes hurried and rushes the play. This occurs less often now and we do not expect it not to be a major issue moving forward. He remains the Kings most NHL-ready defenseman among blueline prospects. Barring a trade to another team (which isn’t likely at this point), he should compete for a roster spot in training camp next season.
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