Just watched the WCHA Final Five Championship game with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (featuring D Derek Forbort) versus Denver University (featuring C Nick Shore). Denver was missing several key players, and North Dakota dominated throughout a 4-0 victory. Forbort, who I first saw in his brief World Juniors appearances, continues to improve in all aspects of his game - skating, puck handling, positioning, aggressiveness. He had a nice assist off the rush on the second Fighting Sioux goal, and later got into a little tiff with Denver's captain Dustin Jackson. Don't think he profiles into a future star, but has every chance to become a solid top 4 D - reminds me a bit of Willie Mitchell, and that's pretty good.

Nick Shore is a sophomore who skates on the same team as his older brother Drew, who was a 2nd round pick of the Florida Panthers. Drew is a talented offensive player, but Nick has the more well-rounded game, contributing at both ends of the ice. While I was impressed with his instincts and feel for the game, he doesn't appear to have above-average offensive skills or great quickness. He could easily settle into a 3-4 line slot for an NHL team or spend 10 years in the minors - just depends on what opportunities he gets or doesn't get. I just watched Mike Weaver and Marcel Goc play major minutes for Florida, so who knows ?