Certainly! Here’s a 300-word piece on the topic “Two Notable Players the LA Kings Passed On in the 2010 NHL Draft in Favor of Derek Forbort”:
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Two Notable Players the LA Kings Passed On in the 2010 NHL Draft in Favor of Derek Forbort
The 2010 NHL Draft offered plenty of promising talent, and with the 15th overall pick, the Los Angeles Kings selected defenseman Derek Forbort. At the time, Forbort was seen as a steady, two-way blueliner with size and potential. While he eventually carved out a respectable NHL career, primarily as a third-pairing defenseman, the Kings’ choice looks far more questionable in hindsight when considering who was still on the board.
Vladimir Tarasenko was one of the most glaring misses. Taken 16th overall by the St. Louis Blues—just one pick after Forbort—Tarasenko quickly developed into one of the league’s most dangerous scoring wingers. He’s a multiple-time 30-goal scorer and played a key role in helping the Blues capture their first Stanley Cup in 2019. His offensive upside far surpassed that of Forbort, and adding a dynamic forward like Tarasenko could have given the Kings another scoring weapon during their 2012 and 2014 Cup runs.
Another star the Kings passed on was Evgeny Kuznetsov, selected 26th overall by the Washington Capitals. Though his NHL debut came a few years later, Kuznetsov became an elite playmaking center, best known for his breakout performance during the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup run. His speed and offensive creativity could have added a different dimension to the Kings’ traditionally defense-heavy roster.
While Forbort did contribute defensively during his time in Los Angeles, the decision to pass on two dynamic offensive talents like Tarasenko and Kuznetsov continues to be a “what-if” moment for Kings fans. Hindsight is always 20/20, but it’s hard not to wonder how different the Kings’ future might have looked with a bit more scoring firepower from that 2010 draft.
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