Anaheim Ducks Sign Wisconsin's Nic Kerdiles

The Anaheim Ducks signed Wisconsin sophomore forward Nic Kerdiles to an entry-level contract on Saturday morning. Kerdiles was a second round draft choice of the Ducks, 36th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Kerdiles' career at Wisconsin got off to a tumultuous start when the NCAA suspended him for 10 games due to not paying back his advisor quickly enough for a hotel room at the 2012 Draft. But once Kerdiles hit the ice for the Badgers, he was nothing short of outstanding. In just over a year and a half with the Badgers, the 6-2 196 lbs. forward scored 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points in 60 career games.

We had Kerdiles ranked as the second best pro prospect in the NCAA in our Top 100 NHL Prospects in College Hockey list this past year. Here's what we had to say about him:

2. Nic Kerdiles, Forward, Wisconsin (Anaheim Ducks)

After having to sit out the first half of his freshman season, Kerdiles has been a consistent scorer, averaging just over a point per game in his career, and the Badgers are a much better team with him in the lineup. Kerdiles is a bigger winger, listed at 6’1" 201 lbs., and complements that size with incredible hand-eye coordination that should make him an effective scoring wing at the NHL level.