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With the 25th Pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, St. Louis Selects... |
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26. Scott Laughton
27. Ludvig Bystrom
28. Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves
29. Oscar Dansk
30. Malcolm Subban
Fresh off an outstanding season in which a team full of talent came together under a coach who suited their work ethic and two-way abilities to a 't', St. Louis continues to build in their model through the draft.
"With the twenty-fifth pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, St. Louis is proud to select, from the US Under-18 Program:
Nicolas Kerdiles."
A gifted athlete with impeccable work ethic and the ability to play in every situation, Kerdiles matches the model set forth in St. Louis well. Exuding high end IQ, Kerdiles tends to see the play happen before it happens and moves to where the puck is going. He anticipates and reads situations above those around him. He moves into open holes defensively and closes off gaps well. Offensively he has the ability to open up holes to find his open teammates.
As mentioned earlier, Kerdiles is a gifted athlete. At six-foot-two and around 200 lbs, he's got NHL size already. Beyond that, he's a strong skater, with a healthy amount of speed and mobility in all directions. He displays soft hands when with the puck and shows good puck possession skills. Whether trying to go around his man or draw him in, he can do it.
Kerdiles also brings a strong release to his shot, which comes off the stick like a bullet. Whether driving hard to the net using his size and speed, utilizing his vision to set up a teammate, or outsmarting the opposition, Kerdiles brings a healthy offensive arsenal.
Defensively, Kerdiles brings strong work-ethic each shift. He continuously lays his body on the line to block shots, when not filling holes in coverage.
Whether Kerdiles becomes an impact forward or not remains to be seen. What scouts do know, is that they'll be getting a hard working two-way forward to mold into a future NHL'er.
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