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Arctic Ice Hockey’s First Annual NHL Mock Draft: Pick #28

Hey all! Welcome to Arctic Ice Hockey's first annual NHL Mock Draft. Over the next thirty days, Ryan, Tim and myself will attempt to telepathically channel the minds of NHL General Managers as they complete their final rankings in preparation for the 2012 NHL Draft being held June 22, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA.

In some instances, our analysis will require less insight than others *cough* *Edmonton* *cough*.

So without further adieu, we present our loyal readers with the twenty-eighth overall pick of Arctic Ice Hockey's 2012 Mock Draft.

Glen Sather: With the twenty-eighth overall selection in this years draft, the New York Rangers are pleased to select..


Nicolas Kerdiles

Left Wing / USA U-18 – USNTDP

6-2

January 11 1994
Hometown: Lewisville, TX

Shoots: Left



GP G A P +/- PIM
2011-12 USA U-18 (USNTDP) 50 20 22 42 -5 36

Rankings: CSS (29 NA), ISS (15), TSN (51), Hockey Prospectus (27)

The Skinny: The New York Rangers have a soft spot for American-born talent, icing a roster that features the likes of Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan, Brian Boyle, Ryan McDonagh, Stu Bickel, Mike Rupp and Chris Kreider. Although they may decide to draft Stefan Matteau (bloodlines!) at this spot, Kerdiles is a versatile centre that can be groomed by John Tortorella.

Hockey Prospectus:

Kerdiles is the top forward on the US U-18 team in what has been a weak crop of forwards for them this year. He's not a truly flashy player but certainly has good offensive skills and is a pretty well-rounded player with several offensive elements and gets it done in his own end as well. Kerdiles is a good skater who has a technically sound stride and can really be a pest on the forecheck with his speed. He has solid puck skills with the ability to make the odd move in open ice and shows some creativity off the rush. Kerdiles will flash the ability to be an above-average distributor but is inconsistent in that area as there will be times when he has tunnel vision and doesn't show desirable sense, only to make a great sense play later in the game. He's a hard-working two-way player who will drive the net, pressure physically on the forecheck, and hustle back diligently to help on defense. Kerdiles will also be used on the penalty kill and shows the ability to be effective. He doesn't have a really notable weakness other than his somewhat skinny frame, though as stated above, he doesn't have a standout skill. – Corey Pronman

AIH Mock Draft

Pick Team Player Pos Nationality Amateur Club
1 Edmonton Oilers Nail Yakupov LW RUS Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2 Columbus Blue Jackets Mikhail Grigorenko C RUS Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
3 Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk C USA Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4 New York Islanders Ryan Murray D CAN Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Filip Forsberg RW SWE Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
6 Anaheim Ducks Matt Dumba D CAN Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
7 Minnesota Wild Teuvo Teravainen LW FIN Jokerit Jr. (SM Liiga)
8 Carolina Hurricanes Morgan Rielly D CAN Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
9 Winnipeg Jets Radek Faksa C CZE Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
10 Tampa Bay Lightning Cody Ceci D CAN Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
11 Washington Capitals (via COL)
Griffin Reinhart D CAN Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
12 Buffalo Sabres Zemgus Girgensons C LVA Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
13 Dallas Stars Sebastian Collberg RW SWE Frolunda Jr. (SuperElit)
14 Calgary Flames Jacob Trouba D USA USA U-18 (USNTDP)
15 Ottawa Senators Pontus Aberg LW SWE Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)
16 Washington Capitals Tomas Hertl C CZE HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga)
17 San Jose Sharks Brendan Gaunce C CAN Belleville Bulls (OHL)
18 Chicago Blackhawks Hampus Lindholm D SWE Rogue Jr. (U18 Elit)
19 Tampa Bay Lightning (via DET)

Thomas Wilson RW CAN Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
20 Philadelphia Flyers Olli Maatta D FIN London Knights (OHL)
21 Buffalo Sabres (via NSH) Matt Finn D CAN Guelph Storm (OHL)
22 Pittsburgh Penguins Philip Di Giuseppe LW CAN University of Michigan (CCHA)
23 Florida Panthers Slater Koekkoek D CAN Peterborough Petes (OHL)
24 Boston Bruins Scott Laughton C CAN Oshawa Generals (OHL)
25 St. Louis Blues Derrick Pouliot D CAN Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
26 Vancouver Canucks Colton Sissons C CAN Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
27 Phoenix Coyotes Tim Bozon LW USA Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
28 New York Rangers Nicolas Kerdiles C USA USA U-18 (USNTDP)

Community Draft Board

Pick Team Player Pos Nationality Amateur Club
1 Edmonton Oilers Nail Yakupov LW RUS Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2 Columbus Blue Jackets Mikhail Grigorenko C RUS Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
3 Montreal Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk C USA Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4 New York Islanders Ryan Murray D CAN Everett Silvertips (WHL)
5 Toronto Maple Leafs Filip Forsberg RW SWE Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)
6 Anaheim Ducks Teuvo Teravainen LW FIN Jokerit Jr. (SM Liiga)
7 Minnesota Wild Matt Dumba D CAN Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
8 Carolina Hurricanes Morgan Rielly D CAN Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
9 Winnipeg Jets Radek Faksa C CZE Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
10 Tampa Bay Lightning Cody Ceci D CAN Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
11 Washington Capitals (via COL)
Jacob Trouba D USA USA U-18 (USNTDP)
12 Buffalo Sabres Griffin Reinhart D CAN Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
13 Dallas Stars Pontus Aberg LW SWE Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)
14 Calgary Flames Olli Maatta D FIN London Knights (OHL)
15 Ottawa Senators Sebastian Collberg RW SWE Frolunda Jr. (SuperElit)
16 Washington Capitals Zemgus Girgensons C LVA Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
17 San Jose Sharks Brendan Gaunce C CAN Belleville Bulls (OHL)
18 Chicago Blackhawks Hampus Lindholm D SWE Rogue Jr. (U18 Elit)
19 Tampa Bay Lightning (via DET)

Matt Finn D CAN Guelph Storm (OHL)
20 Philadelphia Flyers Slater Koekkoek D CAN Peterborough Petes (OHL)
21 Buffalo Sabres (via NSH) Tomas Hertl C CZE HC Slavia Praha (Czech Extraliga)
22 Pittsburgh Penguins Thomas Wilson RW CAN Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
23 Florida Panthers Derrick Pouliot D CAN Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
24 Boston Bruins Scott Laughton C CAN Oshawa Generals (OHL)

25 St. Louis Blues Colton Sissons C CAN Kelowna Rockets (OHL)

26 Vancouver Canucks Henrik Samuelsson RW USA Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
27 Phoenix Coyotes Philip Di Giuseppe LW USA University of Michigan (CCHA)

Option Votes
Tim Bozon 1
Martin Frk 2
Nicolas Kerdiles 8
Brady Skeji 1
Dalton Thrower 0
Other (provide name in comments) 1
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