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- mstuk41 - 03-31-2017
-Double Media Week -
Calgary:
When you talk to people around the league about the Calgary Dragons players, you hear them mention: MVP Candidate and Captain Randy Randleman, the GM the built the Dragons into a dynasty – GM Esa Anrikkanen, or their Superstar Goalie, Hunter Wong. You rarely hear anybody ever mention, Nicholas Pedersen, outside of Alex Mack’s PT assignments. Honestly, that’s the way that Pedersen prefers it. He has carved himself a hall of fame worthy career with little fanfare, which he has been underestimated from the get go. Coming into the league during a huge recruiting drive, and when there was a mass recreate, Pedersen would become part of the legendary S20 SHL class.
Detroit or Bust:
Drafted 43rd overall in the 8th Round of the SMJHL by Detroit, Pedersen was drafted as a favor to assistant GM Esa Anrikkanen, who had started his superstar career in Detroit before heading to Calgary as the #4 pick in the S18 Draft. Nicholas played his rookie season as the #2 Center, putting up a respectable 21 points in 40 games. The Falcons season ended in disappointing fashion, with a first round flame out.
After the season, Pedersen’s focus turned to the S20 draft. After a good but not great showing in his rookie season, and the overall depth of the draft, Pedersen was hoping to be able to join his friend and SHL mentor, Esa Anrikkanen in Calgary. But due to travel issues, Pedersen missed out on working out for every team, with the exception of Toronto. Needless to say, Pedersen was not expecting to be an early round pick. However, in the back of his mind, he knew that whoever picked him was going to get a player that would work his butt off to become one of the best.
September 1, 2014 – SHL S20 Entry Draft:
Round 1
1. Manhattan Rage (via Toronto North Stars from West Kendall Platoon) - Chuck Goody
2. West Kendall Platoon (via Toronto North Stars from Texas Renegades) - Bojo Biscuit
3. New England Wolfpack (via Minnesota Chiefs) - Benjamin Reid
4. Hamilton Steelhawks (via Edmonton Blizzard) - Friedrich Müller
5. New England Wolfpack (via Toronto North Stars) - Nicklas Wikstrom
6. Minnesota Chiefs (via Calgary Dragons) - Jamie Hawkins
7. New England Wolfpack (via Los Angeles Panthers) - Nathan Russell
8. New England Wolfpack - Sam Samsinov
9. Seattle Riot - Mikko Koskinen
10. Calgary Dragons (via Manhattan Rage) - Sachimo Zoidberg
11. West Kendall Platoon (via Hamilton Steelhawks) - Jed Lloren
12. Minnesota Chiefs (via Winnipeg Jets) - Pedro Sarantez
Round 2
13. Toronto North Stars (via Minnesota Chiefs) - Kristian Eriksson
14. Los Angeles Panthers (via West Kendall Platoon) - Adrian Thomaz
15. West Kendall Platoon (via Texas Renegades) - Bryson Thomaz
16. Edmonton Blizzard (via Hamilton Steelhawks from Edmonton Blizzard) - Jackson Rogers-Tanaka
17. Toronto North Stars - Barney Stinson
18. Calgary Dragons - Gil Lemar
19. Los Angeles Panthers - Valterri Bottas
20. New England Wolfpack - Dean Colt
21. Toronto North Stars (via West Kendall Platoon from Seattle Riot) - Toki Wartooth
22. New England Wolfpack (via Manhattan Rage) - Keith Trubachev
23. Edmonton Blizzard (via Hamilton Steelhawks) - Mark Longford
24. Manhattan Rage (via Winnipeg Jets) - Jaden Maxfield
25. New England Wolfpack (compensatory pick) - Blake Sherill
Round 3
26. West Kendall Platoon (via Toronto North Stars from Minnesota Chiefs) - Aviad Ratzon
27. West Kendall Platoon (via Toronto North Stars from West Kendall Platoon) - John Heimer-Schmidt
28. New England Wolfpack (via Texas Renegades) - Le Scucker
29. Winnipeg Jets (via Edmonton Blizzard from Los Angeles Panthers) - Jed Hackert
30. Manhattan Rage - Arton Laxk
31. Toronto North Stars (via Calgary Dragons) - Chester Cunningham
32. Los Angeles Panthers - Alexander Kjærberg
33. New England Wolfpack - Yuri Boyka
34. Seattle Riot - Clay Parker
35. New England Wolfpack (via Manhattan Rage) - Jakub Krejci
36. Hamilton Steelhawks (via Texas Renegades from Hamilton Steelhawks) - Griffin Simons
37. Toronto North Stars (via Winnipeg Jets) - James Adkins
Round 4
38. Hamilton Steelhawks (via Minnesota Chiefs) - Jakob Tanner
39. West Kendall Platoon - Kari Kekkonen
40. Texas Renegades - Brian O'Rourke
41. Toronto North Stars (via Edmonton Blizzard) - Axel Reid
42. Toronto North Stars - Nicholas Pederson
43. Calgary Dragons - Deacon Douglas
44. Los Angeles Panthers - Jackson Hauke
45. New England Wolfpack - Christophe Bourgeois
46. Los Angeles Panthers (via Seattle Riot) - Shinji Kudryashov
47. Winnipeg Jets (via Manhattan Rage) - Kodiak Clark
48. New England Wolfpack (via Hamilton Steelhawks) - Elyk
49. Winnipeg Jets - Alexei Smirnoff
Round 5
50. Minnesota Chiefs - Nick Carlzner
51. Toronto North Stars - Jacob Cunningham
52. Texas Renegades - Gryck Rhobinson
53. Hamilton Steelhawks (via Edmonton Blizzard) - Franklin Trey
54. Toronto North Stars - Scott Escobar
55. Calgary Dragons - Merit Csonka
56. Los Angeles Panthers - Christian Blauch
57. Manhattan Rage (via New England Wolfpack) - Carl Sledgehammer
58. Seattle Riot - Cedric Gambetta
59. Manhattan Rage - Aleksander Holliday
60. Seattle Riot (via Hamilton Steelhawks) - Aston Martin
61. Toronto North Stars (via Winnipeg Jets) - Barb Lahey
Round 6
62. Minnesota Chiefs - Matt Kruze
63. Hamilton Steelhawks (via West Kendall Platoon) - Andrei Barndyk
64. Texas Renegades - Marcus Mitchell
65. Manhattan Rage (via Edmonton Blizzard) - Taylad Deenikov
66. Manhattan Rage - Alexandre Sauve
67. Calgary Dragons - Chris Fekete
68. Los Angeles Panthers - PASS
69. Manhattan Rage (via New England Wolfpack) - PASS
70. Seattle Riot - Andrew Gilmore
71. Manhattan Rage - PASS
72. Toronto North Stars (via West Kendall Platoon from Hamilton Steelhawks) - Barney Tuzis
73. Winnipeg Jets - Robert Chelios
Round 7
74. Minnesota Chiefs - Craig Wall
75. West Kendall Platoon - George Schmidt
76. Texas Renegades - Charlie Serpe II
77. Manhattan Rage (via Edmonton Blizzard) - PASS
78. Toronto North Stars - PASS
79. Calgary Dragons - PASS
80. Los Angeles Panthers - PASS
81. New England Wolfpack - PASS
82. Seattle Riot - David Richter
83. Manhattan Rage - PASS
84. West Kendall Platoon (via Hamilton Steelhawks) - Sparky Chewbarky
85. Winnipeg Jets - Daniel Vanek
The amount of SHL talent in this draft lived up to the hype that was built up. After 13 seasons that S20 draft still has 17 players left of the 75 Players that were drafted that evening, including:
Team - Player TPE
CAL
Nicholas Pedersen - 1535
NEW
Blake Sherrill* - 810
Benjamin Reid* - 842
Nathan Russell - 1665
TOR
Kristian Eriksson - 1616
Toki Wartooth* - 594
WKP
Bojo Biscuit - 1511
EDM
Barney Stinson - 1372
Pedro Sarantez - 1234
Mark Longford* - 672
LAP
Chester Cunningham - 1353
SEA
Jed Lloren - 1363
Dean Colt - 1332
Mikko Koskinen* - 1092
Phil Osgoode* - 534
TEX
Yuri Boyka - 1036
WPG
Elyk - 863
Unfortunately for Pedersen his dream of being drafted by Calgary fell one draft pick short. With the 42nd Pick Toronto selected Pedersen just before Calgary’s pick. Never one to show his disappointment. Pedersen knew that he was going to be back in Detroit as the 1st Line center of a team that had high hopes of winning a Junior Cup. So taking the disappointment in stride, Pedersen set out to prove every team wrong that passed him up in the draft.
Pedersen quickly signed a 3 Year contract with Toronto. Days later a Nicholas received a message from Toronto’s management that would change the trajectory of his career. The GM had a chance to bring in Pedersen’s Detroit teammate Jamie Hawkins in a deal that would send Nicholas to Minnesota. A team that was in a complete rebuild. Nick felt that it wasn’t his place to stand in the way of a team trying to improve themselves, so he signed off being sent to Minnesota. Leaving the GM with the parting words that he would regret making this trade in the long run. I think the records back up that thinking.
Season 20 – Detroit Falcons
After finally being sent back to Detroit, Pedersen enjoyed a great season playing on Detroits top line with the high scoring duo Hawkins and Hauke on his wings. Pedersen put up 46 points in 40 games, helping the Falcons win their division and make it to the SMJHL finals. Unfortunately the Falcons season ended in disappointment again, with Detroit dropping Game 7 to Vancouver, crushing Pedersen’s dreams of winning his friend and new Falcons GM Esa a cup in his first season with the team.
In Pedersen’s perfect world, he was going to spend 1 more season down with Detroit, and even got the green light from Minnesota’s acting GM that would be fine, since they were going through a rebuild that would take a few season to turn around into a contender. So another season in Detroit as a 350 TPE send down was the original plan for Pedersen, until management was changed in Minnesota. The new GM wanted commitments from players for the long term, something that Pedersen couldn’t do. Helping Detroit win the cup was his top priority, not playing on a losing team.
With that, Pedersen’s days in Minnesota were over. Unfortunately for Esa, it was goodbye Detroit, and hello LA. The Panthers acquired Pedersen to play on their 2nd line with former teammate Jackson Hauke and Yuri Boyka. For Pedersen it was bitter sweet leaving Detroit, but LA was the best landing place possible for the rookie. Wasty moved some older stars that were nearing the end of their careers for younger guys that could step right in and grow up in the league together.
Season 21- LA Panthers
Pedersen playing 2nd line center had a pretty good rookie season, tallying 30 points with 11 goals and 19 assists. Ending the year with a +5 while playing in all situations on the ice. Nicholas finished the season averaging .57 points per game. The Panthers “rebuild” was way ahead of schedule, making the playoffs with most spots being occupied by players in their first three seasons in the league.
Season 22 – LA Panthers
Pedersen started off the year playing 2nd line center as he did his first season in the league. Boy he did get off to a horrendous start. Tallying only 9 points in the teams first 30 games. The Sophomore Slump was threatening to rear its ugly head. A simple line change, that GM Wastlund implemented, salvaged Pedersen’s 2nd year with the Panthers, and helped the team build more momentum towards becoming one of the best young teams in the league. Joining the top line, centering superstar Brian Morley, Pedersen put together a 2nd half of the season that saw him tally more than a point per game. Wasty’s trust in Pedersen was the turning point of the young centermans career. Finishing the season with 35 points on 9 goals and 26 assists, with a +4 Rating, and 110 hits. Who knows why Pedersen struggled so mightily in the early part of the season. Perhaps it was because he tried to add a new element to his game, checking. In the end it turned out to be a successful year, that set Pedersen up to becoming one of the better centermen in the league. Unfortunately the Panthers fell in 7 Games in the SHL Championship to Manhattan.
Season 23 – LA Panthers - #46 Top 100 SHL Players
Playing all season with Brian Morley, Pedersen put together his best season to date in his young career. Tallying 46 points, with 19 goals and 27 assists, finishing the season as a +18, Pedersen thrived in all situations on the ice. Perhaps it was a change in his priorities as he went back to hitting less, and spending more time on the ice. Pedersen went the entire season without taking a penalty. Riding the momentum of last years playoff success, the Panthers finished the season with the Presidents trophy, and were victims of the curse that plagues most President Cup winners. All in all it was a season that let Pedersen know that he could have great success in the SHL.
Season 24 - LA Panthers - #59 Top 100 SHL Players
Despite having a career year to date, Pedersen’s stock around the league was falling. Building off the 35 points season in S22, where he made his debut on the top 100 SHL player list at #46. Pedersen followed that up with a 46 point season, but ended up dropping in the ratings to #59, because of dramatic drop in hits. Yeah, Pedersen changed his game from an ineffective power forward, to a defensively sound pass first center man. More motivation I guess, but Pedersen answered the call, putting up 47 points with 18 goals and 29 assists. Finishing the year as a +3 and getting it going on the Power play with 13 PPP for the year, good for .90 points per game. Unfortunately the season again ended in heartbreak, with the Panthers falling to Hamilton in 7 Games for the Championship. Remarkably, every Hamilton victory was in Overtime, while the 3 Panther victories were blowouts. With Free Agency looming in one season, and the Panthers seeming not able to get over the hump, Pedersen decided it was time to let management know that after next year, he would be looking to reunite with his childhood friend, and SHL mentor, Esa Anrikkanen in Calgary.
Season 25 – LA Panthers/Calgary Dragons - #16 Top 100 SHL Players
The Panthers started the season miserably, found their legs for a bit, until the wheels fell off again with a 5 game losing streak, that ended up sealing Pedersen’s career in LA. With the looming trade deadline approaching, Pedersen was sent to Calgary in a deal for Gil Lemar and draft picks. At the time of the trade Pedersen had been averaging nearly a point per game, unfortunately Pedersen struggled to find any chemistry with his new teammates and ended the year with a disappointing 42 points, however he was a +19 on the season, finishing with a .84 points per game average. On the bright side, the moved preserved Pedersen’s streak of making the playoffs in each season that he has been in the SHL. Calgary’s first ride into the playoffs in four seasons saw them lose in the first round. In the offseason, Pedersen signed a long term deal with the Dragons, one that would guarantee, as long as Esa is at the helm, that he would be in Calgary for the rest of his career.
Season 26 – Calgary Dragons - #22 Top 100 SHL Player
Season 26 was a new beginning for Pedersen. New team, new players to get used to, new player build. Pedersen, started to load up on checking in the offseason, his weakness, and tied his career high for hits in a season with 110. That was the good news. The bad news is that Pedersen had his worst year statistically since his second season in the SHL. Scoring 37 points, on 15 goals and 22 assists. His lowest total since his first season in the league. On the year Pedersens per game scoring dropped to .74 points per game. The Dragons made the playoffs, and found their way into the conference championship. It wasn’t the Dragons year, as they fell in the series. This series was the turning point for the Dragons playoff success. With two season under his belt, Esa was determined to get this team to the promised land. Season 27 would be one to remember.
Season 27 - Calgary Dragons - #49 Top 100 SHL Player
After the statistically down year for Pedersen, tumbling down the Top 100 list was inevitable. The bounce back season that Pedersen enjoyed, helped propel the Dragons to 2nd place in the West. A hard fought conference championship win against Edmonton, to face off with Pedersen’s SHL final nemesis Hamilton. The S27 SHL Finals was special. The team facing real life adversity, found itself down 3 games to 0. One game at a time is all that you can play them at that point. Hope like hell theres a favorable bounce that finds the back of the net, giving you another shot at extending the series. The odds were not in their favor, but somebody was looking over the Dragons this series. The S24 nightmare was erased. The S27 Champions – Calgary Dragons – back from the brink to winning the cup. It really was a special year, that future of the Dragons start to make a name for himself (Randy Randleman). Statistically Pedersen ended the year with 43 points, 15 goals, 28 assists, +21, with a career high 144 hits and .86 points per game.
Season 28 – Calgary Dragons - #27 Top 100 SHL Player
Season 28 was another up and down year for Pedersen and the Dragons. The team made the playoffs due to a 10 game winning steak at the end of the season but flamed out in the first round. Statistically, Pedersen finished the season with 40 Points with 17 goals and 23 assists. At one point in the season Pedersen and his line were a combined -43. Not good, at all. A small change, flipping the wings from one side to the other, seriously, sent Calgary’s 2nd line on a run that had them finish the year as a -13. Pedersen for the first time was a negative player on the season with a -5. All in all in was a disappointing year. With regression starting in another year, what does the future hold for Nicholas?
Season 29 – Calgary Dragons - #59 Top 100 Player
The drop in the Top 100 list was expected. I didn’t expect that big a drop, but oh well. Time to get out there and prove them wrong, like Pedersen has been doing his entire career. The Dragons enjoyed another playoff run that led them to their second cup win over Hamilton in three seasons… Can you say budding dynasty? With a solid core, and a ton of tpe earners that can combat the regression that is coming, Calgary’s future is very bright. Pedersen’s on the other hand enjoyed a career year in his last season before regression, putting up 48 points on 17 goals and 31 assists. +6 and a bounce back 121 hits. Good for .96 points per game. This season was a big confidence builder after a couple of years of finding his way in Calgary, diverting to others, instead of being a leader. Something that did not go unnoticed, as Pedersen received the honor of wearing his first letter in his career “A”.
Season 30 – Calgary Dragons - #24 Top 100 Player
Coming off a career year, and having to deal with his first regression hit, how would Pedersen respond? Playing for the first time with Esa, who moved to wing because of regression, Pedersen put up a career high total of 54 points. Breaking the 20 goal threshold for the first time with 22 and adding 32 assists for a 1.08 points per game average. The dynamic top line found the back of the net often, leading Pedersen to a +20 for the season, while delivering a respectable 87 hits playing with the bruising winger Esa. This season would be bitter sweet for Nicholas. It would be his last year playing center. Something that he excelled at during his career, finishing with a career faceoff percentage of 51.9%. Unfortunately, the Dragons could not defend their banner, falling to the Presidents Cup curse as New England took home their first cup against Edmonton.
Season 31 – Calgary Dragons #17 Top 100 Player
Following up a career year is always a tough job to do. Try it after getting hit with regression. It isn’t easy, fortunately the Dragons have a number of capable players that could step up and take over the #1 Center spot with faceoffs taking most of Pedersen’s regression hit. Playing on the wing, Pedersen tallied 15 goals and 31 assists for 46 points and .92 points per game. All in all, not a horrible follow up as Pedersen raised his hit total by 50 to 131, his most since season 27. Like I said, not a bad follow up to a career year. The team unfortunately lost again before the Finals, and had to watch New England raise another banner.
Season 32 – Calgary Dragons #23 Top 100 Player
What a year for the Dragons. If you judge a season by how it finished then this one was amazing. The Dragons hoisted the cup, in quite frankly easy fashion. They never had to play an elimination game in the entire playoffs, and were 3-0 in games to end a series. Domination. I don’t expect anything less than this group. Top to bottom this team has so much talent. Any player on the top 3 lines could have been the leading scorer, in fact 3rd line winger, PLL led the team with 43 points. He would be a 1st liner on any other team in the league, but this group has sacrificed personal success for the greater good. The proof is in the pudding, 3 cups in 6 season. Pedersen was up and down all season, finishing just behind PLL for the team lead in points with 42 (0 points in the last 5 games of the season is not a good way to finish). A -3 is also not a good way to finish a season, for only the second time in his career. Of those 42 points, Pedersen found the back of the net 19 times with 99 hits, ending with a .84 points per game average. Regression is real folks.
Season 33 – Calgary Dragons #26 Top 100 Player
Oh what could have been? Season 33 was nearly magical for the Dragons. Unfortunately the Dragons came up just short against a very deserving New England Wolfpack for the SHL Championship. Congrats Wolfpack, 3 cups in 4 years! Combined the two teams have won 6 of the last 7 SHL Championships. The year did not start out so well for the Dragons, who turned around an 0-6 start, to win the West, and just fall short of winning the Presidents Cup. That turnaround happened when GM Esa Anrikkanen, paired Randy Randleman with Pedersen and Shane Gagner. That trio took off after the first 10 games of the season. Randleman finished the year with 64 points, the highest mark ever for a Calgary Dragon, and Pedersen ended the year with 59 Points. He found the back of the net 25 times, while assisting on 34 goals, good for a +17, 63 hits, and 1.18 points per game. Truly a career season. If only the Dragons had not fallen to the Wolfpack, a 4th cup in 7 years would have been special.
Season 34 & Beyond – Calgary Dragons - Top 100 Player ? Hall of Fame ?
Looking forward, it’s very apparent that despite the huge success from Season 33, Pedersen is on the downside of his career. Who knows how much more he has left in the tank. 15% regression is going to take a lot out of him. No longer will we see Pedersen throwing his body around out there. Checking will be completely out of the equation. However, he has played that way before, and with a lot of success I might add. Season 23 & 24 with LA, putting up 46 & 47 points with less TPE than he will having for at least the next season or two. Maybe there is something left in the tank. I am eager to see what the future holds for Nicholas.
Recap:
SHL Cups = 3
Missed Playoffs = 0
Goals = 219
Assists = 350
Points = 569 – 24th on the All Time List. 2nd Leading Scorer in the S20 Draft Class
+ 124
PIM = 459
Hits = 1016
Shots Blocked = 179
PPG = 40
PPA = 97
GWG = 32
GTG = 11
Hat Tricks = 4
1st Star = 35
2nd Star = 35
3rd Star = 30
Code:
4000+ Words- storm - 03-31-2017
samsinov OP
- wikiplaysgames - 03-31-2017
Holy shit what well worded media.
Very well done.
- Schultzy - 03-31-2017
Simons 36th and Tanner 38th overall. Man what a draft!
- Steelhead77 - 03-31-2017
Future Hall of Famer right here! Not bad for a 42nd overall pick!
Awesome career for Pedersen and it's not close to over. Fantastic write up also. Nice work!
- ArGarBarGar - 03-31-2017
Sam Samsinov
Literally who
- ArGarBarGar - 03-31-2017
Also:
Quote:In Pedersen’s perfect world, he was going to spend 1 more season down with Detroit, and even got the green light from Minnesota’s acting GM that would be fine, since they were going through a rebuild that would take a few season to turn around into a contender. So another season in Detroit as a 350 TPE send down was the original plan for Pedersen, until management was changed in Minnesota. The new GM wanted commitments from players for the long term, something that Pedersen couldn’t do. Helping Detroit win the cup was his top priority, not playing on a losing team.
Why does everyone hate Minny, doe?
- kit - 03-31-2017
Quote:Originally posted by Storm@Mar 31 2017, 08:41 AM
samsinov OP
- Chris-McZehrl - 03-31-2017
great career and saved as HoF for sure
- Lunaro - 03-31-2017
=D>
Pedersen was always my low-key fantasy pick up.
- .bojo - 03-31-2017
tbf we picked Kari Kekkonen aka <a href='index.php?showuser=1163' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-10'>WannabeFinn</a> because he was supposed to be the steal of the draft. IF ONLY WE KNEWWWWWW
- Wasty - 03-31-2017
I still miss you buddy, what a career and exactly the type of career I knew you were capable of when Pedersen and Wastlund played S20 in Detroit.
- LB. - 03-31-2017
If only I was not a massive cunt
- HabsFanFromOntario - 03-31-2017
Quote:Originally posted by Schultzy@Mar 31 2017, 10:44 AM
Simons 36th and Tanner 38th overall. Man what a draft!
With me right in the middle :lol:
- Possum Queen - 03-31-2017
Quote:Originally posted by HabsFanFromOntario@Mar 31 2017, 02:56 PMCan't win em all, I guess
With me right in the middle :lol: