Prospect Top 20: Forward Nic Kerdiles
By Sean
This is part 14 of my Prospect File series where I update you guys’ on Hockey’s Future’s Top 20 Anaheim Ducks prospects. This will be a daily series that will hopefully end before the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. I will also be doing a series on possible players the Ducks will take with their first round pick. Part 13 was on center William Karlsson. So, next up in part 14 is #7 on HF’s Top 20, forward Nic Kerdiles.
via collegehockeyinc.com
After serving out his reduced NCAA suspension, Anaheim Ducks draftee Nic Kerdiles was able to get his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin under way. He went on to have a very successful freshman season. He was second on the team in points with 33, despite missing the first 10 games due to the aforementioned suspension. He tallied 11 goals and 22 assists and was a +10. Kerdiles, the Irvine native, was selected by the Ducks in the second round in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. He graduated through the United States National Team Development Program, including a gold medal in the 2012 World U18 Championships. He will most likely play for Team USA in the 2014 World Junior Championships next season. He is something the Ducks don’t really have much of in their prospect system, a pure scorer. They have many guys who play a solid two-way game. Kerdiles has impressive offensive skill and abilities, but he needs to straighten out his play without the puck and in the defensive zone. We’ll see how he progress with the Badgers and when his time comes to join the Admirals, or the Ducks, we will really be able to gauge what kind of NHL career Nic could have.
via ducks.nhl.com
Age: 19
Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Scouting Report:
"“What started out as a tumultuous and potentially devastating situation to his development with the NCAA penalties, Kerdiles went on to have a solid season in his first year with the of Wisconsin Badgers. Kerdiles was second on the team in scoring with 33 points, just three points behind leading scorer Michael Mersch (LAK), despite sitting out the first 10 games of the season due to suspension. The center really put together a good season after such a rough offseason, and furthered the word that he is a very naturally gifted offensive player. At just 19 years of age, Kerdiles will have a solid couple of years as the main guy at Wisconsin. His stock is already fairly high but it has the potential to skyrocket if he stands up to the pressure of being a top gun with his current squad.“Kerdiles is a forward prospect with good size and maturity beyond his years. He projects more as a two-way forward than a purely offensive prospect, but he does have some puckhandling skill. Kerdiles has a good motor and isn’t afraid to take the body when the opportunity presents itself. He is not a flashy player but is instead a player that relies on his smarts and effort to make things happen on the ice.”via HockeysFuture.com"
Next up in the series will be defenseman Sami Vatanen.
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