Kings Article: Derek Forbort Has Been A Pleasant Surprise For LA Kings

[FrozenRoyalty]

No, he's no superstar, nor is he on the road to becoming one. Nevertheless, young defenseman Derek Forbort has played above expectations (lower than his draft position might indicate) for the Los Angeles Kings so far this season and has dealt with the added pressure of eating up some of injured teammate Brayden McNabb's minutes.

What's he doing well? What is he working on in order to improve? What are the Kings still looking for him to do better?

Find out in

Derek Forbort Has Been A Pleasant Surprise For LA Kings

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[PJ Kings Hockey]

For months before the season began, a lot of Kings fans weren't high on Forbort. Didn't think we'd see him in a Kings uniform for long. He's managed to hold his own, though, so kudos to him, especially with him having to step up after the McNabb injury.

“It’s just working with John (Stevens) after practice on a lot of defenseman shooting drills—a lot of changing your angle to get that forward out of the [shooting] lane,” he noted. “It also comes with having confidence out there to hold onto that puck for another second and wait for that lane to open up.”

Keep practicing, kid, we need someone to get those shots through or caroming as fat, juicy rebounds.

 

[damacles1156]

Forbort always had all the tools, and the tool box, just had to put them together.

 

[raswilliam]

North Dakota Fighting Sioux!!!!!!

 

[AlphaBravo]

Such a pleasant article about a pleasant old chap.

 

[triplcrown]

Forbort's hard work has now helped him achieve the lofty position of:

Kings' Player Most Likely To Be Taken In the 2017 Expansion Draft.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Forbort's hard work has now helped him achieve the lofty position of:

Kings' Player Most Likely To Be Taken In the 2017 Expansion Draft.

I think this is the most accurate thing I'll read today. Kid can play. Makes smart little passes and doesn't try to do too much. It's been good to see, rooting for the kid. It's going to suck to lose him to Vegas.

 

[Fishhead]

Even though he has always been pegged as the big, SAH defense type, I think his offensive acumen right now is better than his defensive one. To me, his strengths have been coming out of the zone and along the opponents blue line, while his weakness has been own-zone coverage. Unfortunately the extended time it took him to develop makes for some tough decisions, it's just one of those things.

 

[Basilisk]

He has yet to be a healthy scratch this year.....

 

[Reaper45]

I think at this point you almost have to protect him in the expansion draft. I mean if McNabb gets taken then that saves the Kings some salary and we still have a top-four defenseman.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kings may have to get creative in order to protect Forbort. They could go with 8 skaters and 1 goalie protected, or 7-3-1, which would leave Forbort and McNabb exposed. I don't see 7 forwards worth protecting though.

 

[theMajor]

I think at this point you almost have to protect him in the expansion draft. I mean if McNabb gets taken then that saves the Kings some salary and we still have a top-four defenseman.

Ive been thinking the same thing pretty much since the start of the season, and Forbort has only improved since then. I like McNabb's game a lot and he's come a long way but I think Forbort will help this team more in the future and at a lower cost. he's been a HUGE help to Doughty

 

[Basilisk]

Kings may have to get creative in order to protect Forbort. They could go with 8 skaters and 1 goalie protected, or 7-3-1, which would leave Forbort and McNabb exposed. I don't see 7 forwards worth protecting though.

When McNabb comes back, have him play forward, and ONLY forward, until the season ends....

 

[Trolfoli]

The good news is McNabb & Dowd only would have 1 year in Vegas before going UFA. Vegas may want to take someone who will be part of the team longer. Might be able to get away with protecting Forbort over McNabb. Especially since that first year may be a rough one.

Edit: Or trade Muzzin for an expansion exempt RHD. Would leave you with Forbort/Martinez on the LHD. Muzzin isn't going to be playing 3rd pair mins. Then protect 3-4D depending on if you value that D more.

Or trade Brown for someone like Gudbranson, who wants a ridiculous contract, that will make them exempt to the expansion because no one else will touch that contract.

 

[lexlavender]

I think you expose McNabb over Forbort if you go 8-1. Mcnabb is good, and I don't want to lose him, but his injury this season will make him a less attractive pick for Vegas, and they might pass over him.

Problem is that 8-1 to protect 4 D men means Dowd is exposed

No good answers without a deal with Vegas I think.

 

[Basilisk]

I think you expose McNabb over Forbort if you go 8-1. Mcnabb is good, and I don't want to lose him, but his injury this season will make him a less attractive pick for Vegas, and they might pass over him.

Problem is that 8-1 to protect 4 D men means Dowd is exposed

No good answers without a deal with Vegas I think.

True!


I think the answer is to protect the player who ABSOLUTELY is our best 3C rather than try to protect 1 or 2 players who MIGHT BE our best 4th defenseman.


If there's no clear-cut consensus on whether McNabb is better than Forbort (or vice versa), then leaving both unprotected shouldn't be that big of a deal......

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I think you expose McNabb over Forbort if you go 8-1. Mcnabb is good, and I don't want to lose him, but his injury this season will make him a less attractive pick for Vegas, and they might pass over him.

Problem is that 8-1 to protect 4 D men means Dowd is exposed

No good answers without a deal with Vegas I think.

I think if both Dowd and McNabb are exposed, McNabb will still get chosen. I think Forbort would get picked over Dowd too. Dowd is a soon to be 27 year old who will be a UFA in 2018. Doesn't seem all that attractive to Vegas.

 

[Basilisk]

I think if both Dowd and McNabb are exposed, McNabb will still get chosen. I think Forbort would get picked over Dowd too. Dowd is a soon to be 27 year old who will be a UFA in 2018. Doesn't seem all that attractive to Vegas.

I've said this before and I'll say it again..... if I'm the Vegas GM, I'm taking Brown.....

 

[Fishhead]

Right now I think it's protect 4 and 4.

If Lewis keeps it up he could easily be gone too. Leadership, excellent citizen, unsung hero, good contract, signed for a bit, etc..

 

[triplcrown]

I've said this before and I'll say it again..... if I'm the Vegas GM, I'm taking Brown.....

That only happens with some LGK MIND-CONTROL.

 

[bob77]

On Forbort, he now has gone 20 straight periods without a goal against through the Boston game. Pk and even strength. Impressive. Last goal was Pacoriety in montreal game.

 

[damacles1156]

On Forbort, he now has gone 20 straight periods without a goal against through the Boston game. Pk and even strength. Impressive. Last goal was Pacoriety in montreal game.

Had similar streaks in the AHL/College, it's why I was always confident, he would be an NHL player.

The guy is tough to get past, with his reach/skating.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

On Forbort, he now has gone 20 straight periods without a goal against through the Boston game. Pk and even strength. Impressive. Last goal was Pacoriety in montreal game.

No wonder Sutter praised Forbort and Coach is stingy with praise. So when McNabb comes back, Gravel goes down, Forbort stays with Doughty and McNabb goes with ?