Fansided

Anaheim Ducks make Straight-Up SoCal Trade with Winnipeg, Acquire De Leo

By Ed Stein |
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 20: Chase De Leo #77 of the Winnipeg Jets and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks keep an eye on the play as they battle along the boards during third period action at the MTS Centre on March 20, 2016 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 20: Chase De Leo #77 of the Winnipeg Jets and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks keep an eye on the play as they battle along the boards during third period action at the MTS Centre on March 20, 2016 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

No one can accuse Anaheim Ducks General Manager Bob Murray of being asleep at the switch this week. Big Deal Bob has pulled off another trade.

Actually, it wasn’t a big deal, but it did involve two local products. Anaheim sent wing Nic Kerdiles to Winnipeg for center Chase De Leo. Both players are from Southern California and both are restricted free agents this summer.

Kerdiles

DENVER, CO: Nicolas Kerdiles #58 of the Anaheim Ducks skates prior to the game against the Colorado Avalanche on October 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO: Nicolas Kerdiles #58 of the Anaheim Ducks skates prior to the game against the Colorado Avalanche on October 13, 2017. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Nic Kerdiles, from nearby Irvine, was drafted in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks with the 36th overall pick of 2012. Coming off a successful run with the United States U18 national team, he was a highly rated prospect. Instead of joining the Ducks organization immediately, he went to the University of Wisconsin.

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The 6’2” wing spent two good seasons in Madison with the Badgers, scoring 71 points in 60 games. Kerdiles represented his country again in 2014 at the World Junior Championships. At the conclusion of his sophomore season, he decided to go pro.

Kerdiles has had a tough adjustment to life in professional hockey. He’s scored a total of 72 points in 129 games with the Ducks AHL affiliates in Norfolk and San Diego. The boyfriend of reality star Savannah Crisley has had a few cups of coffee in Anaheim.

Since 2016, he’s played in three regular-season games as a member of the Ducks. Kerdiles was held off the scoresheet in18:39 of action. Kerdiles did play in four 2017 playoff games, where he picked up an assist and was +1.

De Leo

MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Winnipeg Jets center Chase De Leo (77) takes a shot during a preseason NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets on September 21, 2017. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Winnipeg Jets center Chase De Leo (77) takes a shot during a preseason NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets on September 21, 2017. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5′ 9” Chase De Leo hails from La Miranda in Los Angeles County. Winnipeg selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft (99th overall). Unlike Kerdiles, De Leo went the junior route, playing four years for Portland of the Western Hockey League.

As a Winterhawk, De Leo played in 279 games scoring 221 points. He was part of Portland’s 2013 Chynoweth Cup Championship team in his rookie season. Ironically, De Leo also played for the United States on the 2014 WJC team.

De Leo turned professional for the 2015-16 season. He has spent almost his entire adult career with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose where he has been a mid-six player. The lone exception was a two-game recall at the end of 2016 (He made his debut against the Ducks).

Reaction

On the surface, it looks like Murray had to re-stock his San Diego smurf collection after another undersized local, Austin Ortega, signed to play in Europe. The Gulls now add the diminutive De Leo to 5′ 9.5” Kalle Kossila, 5′ 10” Alex Dotsie, and 5′ 9” Kevin Roy.

Next: Counting down the Ducks top 10 prospects, numbers 5 to 1

Seriously, this a deal involving two players that need a fresh start elsewhere. There is no immediate impact on either the Anaheim Ducks or Winnipeg Jets.

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