Derek Forbort left Duluth East a year early to join the US National Development Team and so far it has paid off in terms of scouts noticing him. Not that he wasn't known by all the professional scouts last year as a tall and gifted defenseman who helped lead Duluth East to the state tournament. Forbort has committed to play his college hockey at The University of North Dakota.
Forbort who is 6'4", 195 pounds has the long reach that NHL scouts are fond of and is as good of a skater out there. He's also great with the puck with the exception that he has the puck on his stick so often and tries to make so many great plays that he does have a tendency to turn the puck over.
NHL.com has article on scouting list...
Derek Forbort, a defenseman with U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team -- which for the first time this season is playing in the USHL -- is the top-rated U.S. junior skater. The tall (6-4-1/2) defenseman has 8 assists and 12 penalty minutes in 18 games against a mix of college and USHL competition.
"Derek Forbort has good top-end ability at both ends," Central Scouting's Jack Barzee told NHL.com. "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 and playing. He's probably a top-two defenseman in the NHL if he reaches his potential."
USNTDP defensemen take four of the top five USHL spots. After Forbort, Stephen Johns is ranked No. 3, Justin Faulk is No. 4, and Jarred Tinordi is No. 5. Tinordi is the son of former NHL player Mark Tinordi.
The top-rated non-USNTDP skater is Tri-City's Jaden Schwartz, ranked No. 2. The 5-10, 180-pound center is tied for third in the USHL with 20 points in 14 games.
Read Full article HERE
See CSS Prelim Scouting List HERE
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