The Hockey Spy’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Preview – Derek Forbort

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Christopher Ralph is a sportswriter with a focus on hockey prospects, the entry draft, as well as occasional Flames coverage here at THW.

“Full Potential” Prospect Profile:

Please “Click Here” for “Notes Up Front” and the “Legend” for various topics covered below in my “Live Updated” NHL 2010 Draft Preview article.

Derek Forbort (Click on name for up- to- date stats)

Derek Forbort in the mold of: Tyler Myers {Photo Copyright: Francis Larrede - Flickr}

Date of birth: March 04, 1992
Place of birth: Duluth, MN, USA
Ht: 6-4.5 Wt: 198
Shoots: L
2009-10 Team:  Team USA – USTDP – USHL

NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010

One-Timer:

Forbort already possesses close to an NHL size body. The almost 6’5” towering blueliner skates wonderfully for a big man. While tougher to project how he will contribute at the NHL level, he shows signs of being an all-around talent. At this point, he is more adept on the defensive side, but he has shown he can contribute on the offensive side as well. He has a bullet slapshot and can lug the puck out of his zone efficiently, if not elegantly at this stage of his development. He is a tremendous athlete who reads the game well.

Derek has committed to the University of North Dakota, the strong NCAA program, for the fall of 2010.

Scout’s Honor:

“I love him. I think of all those defensemen, he has the biggest upside. With his size and ability to move the puck, he’s still just scratching the surface of what he could be.”
 – A scout in The Hockey News Draft Preview 2010

“Derek Forbort has good top-end ability at both ends (of the ice). He’s smart and skates so well, he’s almost 6-5 and he’s got everything there in front of him. It’s just a matter of filling out and getting more experience. He’s probably a top-two defenseman in the NHL if he reaches his potential.”
– Jack Barzee, NHL Central Scouting

“A big two-way defender with a ton of room to build on his huge 6’5” frame, Forbort moves very well for a big man and can also jump into the offensive play very well. Although his offensive upside is not as big as some of the other defenders in the draft, Forbort really excels at rushing the puck up the boards and jumping in off the point from the weak side. He is a difficult player to contain when he jumps into the rush or plants himself in front of the net. Forbort is also very intelligent around his own net and rarely takes too many questionable risks.”
– International Scouting Services NHL Draft Guide 2010
“Derek continues to improve every day. He is strong on both sides of the puck, but his offensive instincts are what really jump out.”

– U.S. Under-18 head coach Kurt Kleinendorst

Current Season:

2009-10:  Forbort had 14 points (4 G, 10 A) and a plus-12 rating in 26 games with the USA Development Program Under-18 team (USHL).

Scouting Combine Performance:

  • 1st in Anthropemetry: Wing Span (inches)
  • Tied for 10th in Coordination: Hand-Eye

International Tournaments:

  • Derek registered two assists and a plus-9 rating in 7 games as USA won gold at the Under-18 World Championships.

ETA = 3 yrs

Risk-Reward Analysis: Risk = 1.5/5   Reward = 4.25/5

NHL Potential: All-around blueliner

Strengths:

*See “One Timer” section above.

  • Athleticism
  • High level hockey IQ
  • Blistering slapshot
  • Moves the puck well
  • Impressive skating, agility and balance
  • Defensive acumen
  • God shot blocker
  • Very good passing skills

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

  • Continue to train to increase strength and add mass to help strengthen his physical play and ability to deal with forwards at the pro level.
  • Make more use of his size.
  • Continue to focus on improving puck-handling

Fantasy Hockey Potential: Offensive = 7.5/10   Defensive = 8.5/10

NHL Player(s) Comparison:

– At his best: Tyler Myers

Interesting Notes:  (NHL.com)

  • · His childhood hockey idol was Wendel Clark because of the way he could score goals and fight.

Other Rankings:

CSB: 9-NA

ISS:  10

TSN: 18 {Bob MacKenzie}

McKeens: 18

THN: 11

THW:  18 (June ’10) {Christopher Ralph }

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in any way without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.

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