Robyn Regehr, Rob Scuderi, and Derek Forbort share a dubious distinction.
Since 2012-13, the three defensemen possess four of the worst single-season 5v5 Relative Corsi For % figures among qualified Kings defensemen (500+ 5v5 minutes).
Regehr and Scuderi were not, shall we say, popular among advanced stats adherents.
But we're talking about Forbort. And different times (and players) demand different analysis.
First, and this should go without saying, but still bears repeating: Corsi is not a be-all, end-all stat. It was never intended as such. As observers, we evolved beyond overemphasizing plus-minus and giveaways and takeaways -- and now, we can attempt to look past Corsi.
Second, the Kings, despite lofty shot attempt percentages year after year, look beyond Corsi themselves. The usage of players like Regehr, Scuderi, and Jordan Nolan (career -6.1 Even Strength Rel.CF%) is no accident.
Last season, Forbort actually led Los Angeles blueliners with a +5.57 Rel.CF% (in a small sample size), but at the time, the organization seemed underwhelmed with their 2010 first-round pick. This year, his defensemen-worst Rel.CF% clearly hasn't hurt his standing with the team, as he's racking up top-four minutes.
The ability to defend and make simple plays -- we’ve always said, "Why can’t this kid be a 6-4 Scuderi?"
Indeed, whatever your opinions of Scuderi and Regehr -- and it's worth noting the vast difference between 2012 Scuderi and the 2016 edition -- Forbort evokes some of their best qualities:
Shot Blocking
This was more Scuderi's forte, though Regehr did not shy away.
While Alec Martinez leads the team in Total Shot Blocks (164), Forbort actually holds a slight edge in Shot Block Rate -- 1.93 Shot Blocks/20 over Martinez's 1.9.
There's been a lot of discussion, centered around Kris Russell, about the true value of shot blocks. Gus Katsaros represents the new school of thought:
Leading in shot blocks means that the opposition likely has the puck to begin with, clearly an undesirable situation.
Whatever your opinion, we can probably all agree that at least a willingness to block shots for a defender is important, because there are times when you have no better option. Forbort has proven to be an enthusiastic volunteer in this regard.
Physicality
This is clearly more Regehr than Scuderi. The Brazilian led LA's defense with 3.0 Hits/GP in his last season, while "The Piece" always concentrated on being sound positionally.
Forbort tops blueliners in Total Hits (176) this season, though his Hit Rate trails Matt Greene and Brayden McNabb.
Hitting a lot of people, like blocking a lot of shots, doesn't necessarily make you a great defenseman, but it's something the Kings prize about Forbort.
Battle
Even in their declining years, both Scuderi and Regehr were tough to beat down low and along the boards in one-on-one battles because of their combination of smarts, reach, stick, strength, and willingness to engage.
In much the same way, John Stevens told Jon Rosen in January, "[Forbort] has the ability to get play stopped by being firm."
I'll show you some examples later.
Penalty Killing
Like Scuderi and Regehr before him, Forbort has teamed with Doughty for an effective first-choice PK pairing. Forbort's "firmness" has been a clear asset.
Since November 3rd, when Forbort ascended to regular penalty killing duty, Los Angeles has paced the league with an 86.5 % kill rate. They were 26th before then.
The team's underlying stats with Forbort go along with the results -- their 63.07 Shorthanded Fenwick Against/60 since early November is third in the NHL.
Of course, Forbort doesn't deserve credit for the entirety of LA's penalty-killing prowess. But the numbers support the eye test -- he's a plus on the kill.
***
Of course, none of these skills -- Shot Blocking, Physicality, Battle, and Penalty Killing -- are news about Forbort.
There is, however, a key difference between the 25-year-old and Scuderi/Regehr: Forbort's mobility.
These skating chops give him a reasonable chance to rise above both his veteran comps, both defensively and offensively. Here's how -- there won't be a lot of similar tape from Scuderi/Regehr:
Recovery
Forbort makes a mistake, but his speed and stick keeps him within striking distance of Patrick Marleau:
Forbort helps create the fire drill, but to his credit, he also helps put it out pic.twitter.com/p480VP2W3o
Think of Marleau as being a little long in the tooth? Here, Forbort stays with Max Domi:
Nifty skating by Forbort to keep up with Domi, then well-timed sprawl by Doughty to prevent Hanzal pass & allow Kopitar to recover pic.twitter.com/NJBtPjWYBJ
Even this play, which resulted in an Edmonton goal, showcases Forbort keeping up with Connor McDavid better than most:
Naturally, this kind of mobility helps the youngster with going back and getting pucks too.
Gap Control
Over and over again, Forbort has stood out with gap control reserved for the league's better defenders. For example, see how he prevents Alex Chiasson from even approaching the zone:
What a play by Forbort, catches Chiasson unaware, shows off his reach, stick, and mobility pic.twitter.com/W275EuzUH4
The pesky winger tries a soft dump to the half wall with the intention of beating Forbort to the puck. The giant seals him off.
A forechecking David Backes, along with Patrice Bergeron, force the blueliner into a turnover. However, pressured by a recovering Forbort, Marchand sends the puck to the other side.
Bergeron tosses it back to Marchand in the left corner. Forbort closes in, and most importantly, sticks:
This persistent battle, demonstrating reach, strength, and smarts, forces Marchand toward Trevor Lewis and into a turnover.
Even offensively, Forbort has credible upside. Still sometimes awkward with the puck under duress, he also flashes surprising playmaking and awareness, aided by his often-admirable footwork:
On Friday in Pittsburgh, Forbort executed a masterful area pass. Here, the Penguins expect the rookie defender to go up the boards or tape to tape toward the middle and Carter, both of which are well covered defensively...
Instead, Forbort puts it in a place where the swift Carter can retrieve it. What a read! Even Conor Sheary looks surprised. (HockeyBuzz)
Good recognition of space by Forbort. Skates to it and sees Iginla with his stick on the ice near blue paint, but his redirect travels wide.
Forbort will probably never be a power play fixture, but it seems within his grasp to make all the simple plays and mix in an occasional special one. That's all the Kings ask.
Anyway, at 25, Forbort is by no means a finished product.
The organization is certainly intrigued. "He's played his way onto the expansion protected list," said Jon Rosen on a recent "Saturday Straight Up."
Perhaps now, you can see why -- the best of Scuderi and Regehr with far more mobility is very valuable. Instead of specializing in the corners and along the boards, such skating potentially protects all 200 feet.
For what it's worth, while Forbort will probably never be a play-driver, the rookie's upside suggests his relative possession rates should also improve.
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