Puck Daddy chats with So Cal kid, Ducks prospect Nic Kerdiles about cracking the lineup and the two Ryans at center

Nicolas Kerdiles grew up in Irvine, California, about 20 minutes - on a good day with light traffic - from Honda Center. He was born in January during the Mighty Ducks' inaugural season, and followed the team as he played youth hockey on up. It seemed almost inevitable that Kerdiles and the Ducks would end up together one day.

And at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, they did. Anaheim selected Kerdiles 36th overall from the US National Team Development Program.

He went on to commit and play for the University of Wisconsin where he moved from left wing over to center. In two seasons with the Badgers, Nic appeared in 60 games, scored 26 goals, 45 assists, and only one suspension for a tickytack NCAA violation for receiving benefits (SEC football teams refer to this violation as 'just another Tuesday').

Following the conclusion of his second season at Wisconsin, Nic signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks at a cap hit of $925K per; thus ending his college career. Kerdiles joined Anaheim's AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals for the final six games of the regular season where he notched 1-3=4 points, and followed it up with 3-1=4 points in 10 playoff games. The 20-year-old's next goal is to crack the roster out of camp, and it won't be easy.

View photos BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC - APRIL 22: Nicolas Kerdiles of the United States and Hampus Lindholm of Sweden battle during the final match of the 2012 IIHF ice hockey U18 world championship on April 22, 2012 in Brno, Czech Republic. US team won the final match 7:0. (Photo by Pavel Paprskar/isifa/Getty Images) More

Since the emergence of Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks have been on an Indiana Jones-esque quest to find centers to complement the captain. Saku Koivu had some good years as the No. 2, but his play severely declined this past season after suffering a concussion. Matthieu Perrault looked like a good-enough replacement until Anaheim let him walk during free agency. Nick Bonino was on verge of becoming a No. 2, but that point was rendered moot when he was traded for Ryan Kesler...the new No. 2!

That trade is great for the Ducks, but not so great for Kerdiles progression within the organization. The team wants him at center. If he wants to make the roster out of camp at that position, he has to beat the stockpile of prospects and experienced centers Anaheim has loaded up on (again). He's got a shot, but he is likely better served with a full year in Norfolk than sitting in a pressbox in Anaheim.

Puck Daddy caught up with Nic after the first scrimmage of the Ducks prospect development camp. Team video of Nic is at the bottom of the interview.

Q. What’s the feedback you’ve gotten from the coaching staff so far on what you need to work on? What you need to develop? Anything?

KERDILES: Being a pro, that’s the No. 1 thing ... You can never stop learning from guys. Playing pro is a lot different than college hockey and junior. You gotta’ be able to show up every day, take care of your body, and for me I’ve got to improve on getting bigger, stronger, and faster ...I’m hoping to crack the lineup this year; have a good camp. I just gotta keep working hard.

What’s one area of your game you know you need improve the most before training camp starts?

My skating can get even better. I pride myself on my skating. I’m a good skater, but you look at every guy that’s in the NHL that plays top minutes, they’re all fantastic skaters. So, I think that’s the No. 1 think I can keep working on and improving.

I've read comparisons that you're a smaller [at 6'1"] Ryan Getzlaf. Is that a little bit intimidating? Is it a little exciting?

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