Interview: Catching Up with Derek Forbort

A few months ago prospect Derek Forbort stopped by to talk about being drafted by the Kings (first round, 2010) and adjusting to life as a freshman at the University of North Dakota.

Fresh off of winning a bronze medal last week at the 2011 World Junior Championships, he's back again. In the interview below we reflect on his experience at the WJC, talk about this weekend's big match-up vs. Minnesota and look ahead to the second half of the NCAA season...

MM: So much has been written about the games themselves, how about we start away from the rink - what did you guys do on the off days in Buffalo (at the WJC)?

DF: We went to a couple movies. We saw 'The Little Fockers' on Christmas Day, which is a pretty brutal movie. We hung out at the hotel a lot really. Not much else. There wasn't really a lot going on in Buffalo.

MM: Besides the high of winning the bronze medal, what were some of the other highlights for you personally?

DF: I played with a lot of the guys last year (in the US National Program), so it was a lot of fun getting back together with the boys, seeing what they've been doing lately and so on.

MM: On the flip side, I would assume losing to Canada in the semi-finals was the low...

DF: Oh, definitely!

MM: Is it something that eats at you or do you just file it away in the back of your brain?

Future Fridays - Interview with NHL prospect Nick Bjugstad

On a Saturday afternoon earlier this summer, things were lining up perfectly. Almost too perfectly.

Twenty one summers prior, Scott Bjugstad signed with the Kings after spending one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  While he scored only five goals over the next three years in Los Angeles, it still allowed him entry into a very small club - players who could say they were teammates with Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.

Two decades later, as the first round of this year's NHL draft reached pick #15, Nick Bjugstad was still available.  Scott's nephew could possibly be taken by his former team at #19...he just needed to survive four more picks.

Then, there was a buzz on the floor at Staples Center, followed by the Commissioner announcing a trade.  The Kings had worked a deal to acquire Florida's #15 selection.  Had Dean Lombardi just traded up to take the 6'5" center?

No, he ended up taking another defenseman - Derek Forbort.  However, in a twist of irony, Nick Bjugstad was taken by the Florida Panthers in the #19 slot, the one originally owned by the Kings.

Adding to the confusion, Nick says "After the draft I heard from several people that thought I was taken by the Kings, instead of selected in the spot the Kings traded out of. And some other people I know thought I was traded to LA right after I was drafted.  It was a little crazy at first."

That June weekend was just another of the many high points Nick has experienced this year.  A few months prior he won the 'Mr. Hockey' Award as the top player in the state of Minnesota.  Just a few weeks ago he was one of the stars at the Team USA evaluation camp for the upcoming World Jr Championships.  And next month he'll start classes at the University of Minnesota, his dream school.

In the interview below he opens up, taking us on a journey from his early days on the ice to his whirlwind summer.  There's another Bjugstad headed to the NHL soon...so, get to know Nick...

As you look back now to those early days, what's the most vivid memory that really stands out in your mind?

Tuesday's 10 Tidbits on Team USA's WJC Camp

Nearly all of the best hockey players in the world make a stop at the annual World Junior Championships, held each year right after Christmas.

Both the Canadian and U.S. programs just completed their evaluation camps for this winter's tournament. Yesterday, Kings prospect Kyle Clifford checked in with a report on what went down with Team Canada - including his comments on the five other Kings players who joined him in Newfoundland.

Today, we catch up with a few of the young stars that attended the rival's camp...that of team USA, the defending champions!

Two first round selections at the recent NHL Draft in Los Angeles join us for this special report, Charlie Coyle (San Jose) and Nick Bjugstad (Florida). They have all the details of the happenings from Lake Placid, NY...including their thoughts on the play of Kings first round pick, Derek Forbort.