Nic Kerdiles leaves Wisconsin, signs NHL contract with Anaheim Ducks

Nic Kerdiles is going home. The Irvine, Calif., native has signed an entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, forgoing his final two seasons of eligibility at Wisconsin.

The sophomore forward was drafted by the Ducks in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft, No. 36 overall. According to terms set by the NHL collective bargaining agreement, Kerdiles will be signing a three-year deal with the Ducks.

Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reported it's a two-way contract worth $832,500 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the American Hockey League level, per season.

Kerdiles is expected to play out the rest of the season in the AHL on an amateur tryout offer with Anaheim's top farm club, the Norfolk Admirals. Kerdiles' NHL contract will kick in starting next season.

Kerdiles was one of college hockey's most prolific offensive producers in his second season in Madison, as he finished the year fifth in the country in points per game, averaging 1.36 as a sophomore. In total this past season, Kerdiles registered 15 goals, 23 assists and 38 points in 28 games.

The Badgers were a different team the past two seasons with Kerdiles in the lineup. When he was in a Wisconsin sweater, the Badgers were 40-15-1; without Kerdiles, Wisconsin was just 6-10-3.

Kerdiles is the second early departure for Wisconsin this offseason, following junior defenseman Jake McCabe, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.

Wisconsin has lost 19 underclassmen to professional hockey since the 2003-04 season.

Tough to say everything in 140 characters.. pic.twitter.com/qqGioIdOzU

— Nic Kerdiles (@NicKerdiles) April 5, 2014

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