Name: Derek Forbort
Height:6'5"
Weight: 198 lbs.
09-10 Team: NTDP U18
09-10 stats: 65 games played, 5 goals, 23 assists, 28 points
Prospect Info:
Defenseman Derek Forbort has been a fun player to watch because he is one of the rare players that not only had all the tools to be talented, but has managed to find a way to put them all together and become a special player. His sophomore year at Duluth East HS, Forbort was definitely a talented player, but didn't do much to separate himself from a multitude of big, talented US-born defensemen in his age class. He was big, but a little slow-footed while he adjusted to his body, and not all that physical. He had a big shot, but too much of a tendency to let the game come to him rather than making plays. He was invited to the NTDP's evaluation camp that spring, but didn't make the team.
By the next fall, it was clear that not playing in Ann Arbor was a mistake. Forbort's foot speed improved tremendously and he was dominating over the best high school players in the state in the Upper Midwest Elite League. Later that year, he led Duluth East to the state high school tournament.
Heading into his senior year of high school, and draft year, he decided to take an invitation to join the NTDP in Ann Arbor, much to the chagrin of his high school coach. Throughout this year, Forbort has continued to prove his dominance wasn't just the result of weaker competition, and has improved his physicality by playing against teams from the USHL and NCAA, compared to the relatively soft Minnesota HS league.
Forbort's style of play is a little hard to describe because he can do a little bit of everything. He's got great size and can play a tough defensive game, but also has the offensive abilities to put up his fair share of points. He's not the type of defensemen that is going to make end-to-end rushes deep into the offensive zone, or quarterback a powerplay, but could be a nice #2 defenseman on a top powerplay unit. What really separates Forbort is his tremendous athleticism, lateral movement, and ability to read plays.
Forbort will be a freshman at the University of North Dakota next season.
Strengths: Athleticism, Hockey smarts
Needs to Improve: Physical play, Putting up points
Links of Interest:
Forbort Headed to Bigger and Better Things- Fox 21 News-July 2009
Forbort Goes from Backyard to NTDP-USA Hockey-December 2009
Forbort Draws Praise from Red Line Scouts-GoDuluthSchools-February 2010
USNTDP Prospect: Derek Forbort-USHL Prospects Blog-March 2010
The Hot List-The Hockey News-March 2010
Forbort Is Promising-SNYRangersBlog-April 2010
On WCH...
August 3, 2007: "Derek Forbort(Duluth East Bantam(MN)): Tall defenseman. If he can improve his foot speed, he should be a nice college prospect."
November 10, 2008: "Off the Red team, Derek Forbort has really developed into a great hockey player. He's made great strides over the past 10 months or so since I last saw him, and should have a bright future."
April 2009: Forbort to Join NTDP
January 11, 2010: "11. Derek Forbort-NTDP(North Dakota)-I think this is about the right place for him. I never understood the people who put him lower in their rankings. He's going to be a special player."
January 27, 2010: "If somebody can get Derek Forbort at 18th in the Draft, that seems like ridiculous value for that pick."
February 17, 2010: "Derek Forbort came out as tops on the list. When I was making my list, I had Forbort in the top spot for a long time, and ended up putting someone else ahead of him, but he's definitely a solid choice."
Final Analysis
It's a little tough to project exactly where Forbort will go in the draft. He certainly belongs in the top 15, but there is a group of defenseman in the top half of the first round that includes Cam Fowler, Erik Gudbranson, Brandon Gormley, Forbort, Jon Merrill, and Mark Pysyk that are all tremendously talented. It all could come down to the personal preference of the team doing the drafting.
As for his future, Forbort will likely need a year to adjust to the rigors of college hockey next season, and if he continues to develop, would likely be ready to sign an NHL contract after his sophomore season. From there, he has the potential to someday be a top pairing defenseman.