Derek Forbort: 2010 NHL Draft Profile and Scouting Report

Derek Forbort, U.S. National Team Development Program

Position: Defenseman | Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight 198 lbs
FanHouse Ranking: No. 8 | Age: 18 | Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota

More: Top 35 Prospects | Full 2010 NHL Draft Coverage

Derek 2009-10 Stats
	GP	Goals	Assists	Points
Regular Season	65	5	23	28

No matter where he is selected, Forbort should be the first player off the board who is playing or signed to play for an American college.

Headed to the University of North Dakota this fall, Forbort will also be the first player born in Duluth, Minn., to go in the first round. Given that city's pedigree in Minnesota high school hockey, and the presence of a major Division I program, that might be hard to believe for some.

Forbort decided to give up his final year of high school eligibility to play for the U.S. NTDP in Ann Arbor, Mich. It proved to be a good decision, as the six-four defenseman has done wonders for his draft stock with a good year of development in Ann Arbor. Forbort is one of many high-quality defensemen in this draft who possess size, strength, and puck-moving ability. While he might not match Erik Gudbranson's physicality, Forbort is smooth as silk with the puck on his stick.

He is good against the forecheck, as he has a very low panic point. He reads plays well and makes good, crisp passes. Forbort also has a good, heavy shot.

At North Dakota, Forbort gets to work top-notch coaching staff. He will also spend a year with All-American Chay Genoway -- who returned for a second crack at his senior season after a concussion cost him almost all of 2009-2010. That should do wonders for his NHL readiness.