DANIEL:

Normally, Arthur and I would make recommendations for the Ducks' selection in a joint post. However, He's been a little detained covering the awards show. There are certainly a few names in the draft that could go towards finishing the pokemon line, but I won't be talking about any of them today. When I did talk to Arthur about the draft, I mentioned how open it seems to be. Last year when I was doing this, Etem was ranked in the top 20 in a lot of the draft literature, and the Ducks' need for a top scorer and the fact that he was a local kid made it less of a reach for me to say the Ducks should take him at 12. This year, you could pick a handful of guys at 22 and still probably be making a good pick. It will really depend on who is left on the board. With that in mind, this post focuses more on the possibilities facing the Ducks, rather than me making an actual selection. Although, I will state various preferences.

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ARTHUR:
This is only my second update to my prospects list, so I'm sure I need to explain my methodology at least one more time.  

Unless otherwise noted, I've seen every player play at least one game this past season.  Other than that, I follow them through stats and game recaps from local writers.  I break down my rubric here, but essentially, I rank the Ducks' prospects based on three factors: skill, position in the development process, and relationship to the organization (i.e. organizational preference for the player and likelihood of an opening in the depth chart).  The ideal number one candidate on my list would have the most impressive skillset in the cupboard, three years of dominant play at the junior/NCAA level, three years of dominant play at the AHL level, an affordable and signed entry level contract or second contract, positive performance at all conditioning or training camps, an opening for himself in the depth chart, and the favor of the coaching staff and front office.  

My list differs from most lists in that I graduate players who have played a rookie season (25 games) in the NHL, and I don't claim to rank players in terms of their ultimate NHL talent, which would be the job of an actual scout, not an armchair one.  This is a ranking of players likely to become Ducks.  Thus, where possible, I do try to defer to the Ducks' professional scouts and staff members and their stated opinions or their roster management preferences regarding a player as superior to my own.

On to the list...

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ARTHUR:
Note:  I just want to remind everyone that I will not be updating the AC prospects list until after training camp.  I did it earlier last year, but it makes much more sense to wait until the players perform and the organization executes its cuts.

When news broke in June that Stefan Warg signed, with Anaheim's blessing, to play for the Örebro Vipers of Hockey Allsvenskan in Sweden, it marked the end of an era for me.  The tough 6'2" defenseman was the last of former Ducks Director of Amateur Scouting Alain Chainey's late round picks, his last attempt to steal a player in a 12 year stint running the Anaheim Draft boards.  

In describing Warg after the 2008 Draft, Chainey was clear that the young Swede was a diamond in the rough, noting his toughness and his eagerness to come to America were both uncommon for the sons of Mother Svea.  Warg had a great showing in camp last year, and when Anaheim Calling caught up with him in January, he emphasized that he and Chainey spoke often.  Ultimately, however, when the time came to sign him, he didn't fit into the Ducks' plans.    

Chainey has stayed on the staff as the Director of Player Development, but his replacement, Martin Madden, has put his stamp on two consecutive drafts.  And as a scout who was poached from Carolina for his ability to spot late round talent while assigned to the QMJHL, one would expect an era of 'steals' under the Madden regime.  The Ducks' chief scout certainly hasn't shied away from the words "homerun pick" to describe his draft selections for Anaheim, but we'll take a closer look at his handiwork after the jump.

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ARTHUR:
If you haven't been following our coverage of the 4th Annual Ducks West Coast Prospects Camp, maybe you should go back and take a look.  Two California players were drafted in the First Round at this year's Draft, when the Ducks took Emerson Etem and the Penguins took the highest drafted California born and trained player ever in Beau Bennett, a former participant of the Ducks West Coast Prospects Camp. 

Some of the best players in California gathered at Anaheim Ice to be scouted by over 20 next level programs, including USA Hockey, six College Division I coaches and five CHL teams.  Our full recap after the jump...

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ARTHUR:
On the ice, he seems like any other kid who's well on his way to the next level.  A complete player, he is just as capable of throwing the big hit as sniping the puck past the goaltender, as adept at maintaining body position on his check as finding his teammate with a crisp and accurate pass.  And perhaps it says the most about Frasier Haber that his game on the ice offers no indication of the adversity he's faced in the past year.

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ARTHUR:

Tyler Moy's seven goals led all '95 players at this year's Camp, his twelve points were tied for second in overall scoring, and honestly, with how much offense he was creating, he could've had a lot more.  A confident stickhandler and goal-scorer, Moy also displays incredible vision and passing ability.  He creates space for his teammates, and he can find them, whether he's working the puck down low or carrying it on the rush.

"I try and make others look good, too," Moy says of his game, "I carry the puck when I have to. I carry the puck, and I look for options. I don't think of it as me versus one player on their team. I think of it as us, as a team, against their players. I play more of a team game rather than try to do it by myself."

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ARTHUR:

The Ducks West Coast Prospects Camp serves the dual purposes of showcasing the best young talent Southern California has to offer on their home ice, while also educating that talent about their options at the next level.  To that end, the Camp invited College Hockey Inc. to give a presentation to its invitees about their NCAA opportunities and the rules for NCAA recruiting and remaining an amateur in the organization's eyes.  Afterwards, four Division I coaches spoke briefly about their College Hockey experiences.  

At the bottom of this post, you will find a link to our audio recording of that presentation.  The speakers are as follows:

• Jeff Dwyer, Director of Education and Recruitment for College Hockey Inc.
• George Gwozdecky, Head Coach of the University of Denver
• Mike Gibbons, Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University
• Brett Larson, Assistant Coach University of Minnesota-Duluth
• Tim Army, Head Coach Providence
• Brett Henning, former hockey player turned hockey author 

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I mean, [Nic Kerdiles] just jumps-- he just LEAPS out at you...He's stunning.  He's stunningly good. - David McNab on Nic Kerdiles

ARTHUR:

The leading scorer at this year's Camp, Nic Kerdiles potted 12 goals and 5 assists in his four games with Team Orange, including two gamewinners and one in overtime.  When he wasn't finding the back of the net, he was using his 6'1" 189 lb. frame to staple the opposition to the boards.

"I like to say I'm a power forward," Kerdiles says while describing his game.  "I love hitting guys, and I think I have some skill to make some fancy moves and just drive the net.  [My game]'s between a gritty and fancy kind of play, but more of a power forward.  I'm a bigger guy, and I like to throw the body."

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