Just clearing out the notebook here with a collection of thoughts from two opposite ends of the blueline being patrolled by Kings prospects – Derek Forbort was the team’s first round pick in 2010, while Nick Ebert was the overall last player selected at the 2012 NHL Draft.
Here’s a few nuggets from each guy…
– Ebert on the overall DevCamp experience: “It’s been a tough camp and it’s been competitive. I remember last year it was a lot different going into it. Obviously, this year, with more experience you kind of expect things. It’s a bit easier, a couple more guys, and you know most of the stuff. Everything’s been great.”
– Ebert, who stands 6-foot even, on all the 6-foot-4 defensemen in camp this year: “I’m keeping up good. Like I said before, it’s competitive, and it’s good. It’s good to be with all the guys that are competing for spots potentially next year and the year after that. So it’s good.”
– Ebert on who he’s bonded with the most this year at camp: “All the D. We’re together most of the day, we do our on ice sessions in the morning. We’ve all gotten to know each other even more than we did last year.”
– Ebert on who’s been chirping the most: “I think (Colin) Miller likes to chirp a bit. He likes to throw some lip in here and there, every once in a while. (Kurtis) MacDermid too, I’m rooming with him. He’s one of those guys you don’t really expect to chirp, but he likes to get going every now and then.”
– Forbort on Ebert: “He’s a good player, he’s physical and a tough kid. He makes pretty good plays.”
– Forbort on some of the defensemen chirping: “I think it’s more of a D versus forward thing. The D kind of stick together, but we like to get after the forwards a little bit.”
– Forbort on which forward he targeted then: “Definitely my roommate, Scott Sabourin. We go at it pretty hard, little chirps here are there. But, we’re good buddies too, so it’s fun.”
– Forbort on why he’s not going after Nic Dowd, somebody he played against quite a bit in college: “I think I gave him a cross check pretty hard when we played them (St. Cloud State) this year, so he’s kind of shut up since then.”
– Forbort on where his overall development stands since Draft Day in 2010: “I feel good. I think I’m 30 pounds heavier, I’ve put on a lot of muscle, so I feel a lot stronger and a lot more ready to play at this level than I was back then.”
– Forbort on if he’s received any specific, personal instruction on areas for improvement this week: “Not really. No, I wouldn’t say so. They kind of treat us all the same and let us build on our strengths when we’re out there. I think as long as we’re playing solid D, they don’t care what we do.”
– Forbort on his mindset coming into Rookie Camp this September: “I’m coming in, going to give my best effort, and whatever happens, happens.”
We’ll have plenty more notes and quotes with the Kings prospects in the days ahead.
In the meantime, if you missed any of our exclusive 2013 Development Camp preview interviews, several of them are linked below for your convenience.
RELATED CONTENT:
2013 DevCamp Preview: Seven questions with Zac Leslie
Kings 2013 DevCamp: Seven questions with Joel Lowry
Kings 2013 DevCamp: Seven questions with Kurtis MacDermid
2013 DevCamp Preview: Seven questions with JF Berube
2013 DevCamp Preview: Seven questions with Nick Ebert
2013 DevCamp Preview: Seven questions with Kevin Gravel
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