OHL: Dazzling Duchene

It took 10 years but the Brampton Battalion finally made it to the OHL finals. The play of Cody Hodgson and Evgeny Grachev were recognized with individual hardware with Hodgson taking home the most prestigious trophy - the Red Tilson for most valuable player. The acquisition of Thomas McCollum helped to put the Battalion over the top in the East despite not being able to steal a series. McKeen's takes a final look at several Battalion prospects including Matt Duchene.

Thomas McCollum (Det), G, Brampton

McCollum has been very average in the playoffs boasting a save percentage of .892 .. he has looked rather ordinary since returning from the WJC, where he was unimpressive as well .. his biggest problem is that he is over playing his shots .. as such, he is often in poor position to make the next save and has been getting burned as a result .. he leans and tends to favour his right side but shows decent push off from both pads .. his concentration levels down low have also been a concern, as he is unable to track pucks in traffic, a problem he has never had .. rebound control has also been an issue, as he is kicking out far too many pucks in front .. a slight adjustment in his stance would enable him to place the rebounds in the corners with a convenient stick save .. allows soft goals and does not come up with the big save when needed .. McCollum was pulled in the opening game of the OHL finals, as mentally he just was not there .. he has good mechanics and generally plays his angles well .. traditionally, goaltenders take a longer time to develop and the Red Wings will be patient with him .. with Jimmy Howard likely moving up to the Wings next year it will allow McCollum to compete with Larsson next season for starts in Grand Rapids.

Matt Clark (2009), D, Brampton

Clark led the team in PIM in the regular season and is currently the PIM leader in the playoffs .. a mean-spirited defender, whose nasty streak has not gone unnoticed by NHL scouts .. he only was involved in two fighting majors but added three more to his credit in the playoffs .. appears to only challenge players he knows he can beat and shies away from heavyweights .. below average puck skills and offensive tools .. his game is not centred on having the puck, rather playing without it .. he does struggle in the defensive zone and is too easily danced around on account of not moving his feet .. he could not contain speed either and was routinely beaten to the outside .. his first step is average, as he requires too many steps to get going .. he is powerful and well-balanced along the boards .. appears to know his limitations and does not try to over extend himself offensively .. he does get an occasional shot because no one wants to challenge him .. he likes to hit but since his skating isn't overly great he can't catch guys in open ice, but along the boards is where he makes the opposition pay .. Clark is a project that some NHL team will sniff out in the later rounds.

Evgeny Grachev (NYR), LW, Brampton

Grachev captured Rookie-of-the-Year honours due to an outstanding season that saw him flourish and develop on a consistent basis .. he scored 40 goals and registered 80 points while boasting the highest plus/minus totals on the team .. sensational in every area of the ice, as his defensive game married well with his offensive skills .. he used his size to his advantage and his reach was instrumental in both breaking up plays and setting them up as well .. slick skater with explosive speed and agility of a 5-foot-10, 150-pound player .. his physique makes him sturdy in contact and he makes strong plays to the net to get into scoring positions .. does a good job of protecting the puck and makes plays coming off the half boards, he can easily undress a defender with his stickhandling and create a scoring chance .. dangerous at all times with the puck in his possession, he shoots often and shoots hard .. handling the puck well in traffic has also lent itself to success .. most impressive is his speed and deceptively quick acceleration which helps to stimulate the transition game, as he can go into instant offence mode .. Grachev should get a long look at the NY Rangers training camp this season.

Cody Hodgson (Van), C, Brampton

The winner of the Red Tilson Trophy for Most Valuable Player, Hodgson had a remarkable season capped by numerous scoring achievements, but it has been his ability to lead that has been most impressive .. literally puts the team on his back and his determination to succeed is unrivalled .. his hands are ultra soft and he can make passes on either hand to either wing .. his puckhandling skills are elite as his one-on-one moves are impressive, but he does not have to challenge all the time, rather he trails the play down the right side and jumps into the attack late .. Hodgson draws penalties, as the opposition is afraid he will make them look foolish .. he has good acceleration and quickness and a swift change of direction when players play him too close he can easily separate himself from them .. if Hodgson can be criticized of one thing it is his lack of grittiness, however with his compact build that resembles that of a fire hydrant when he chooses to hit he can be rather annoying .. he showed a willingness to do so in the opening game of the OHL finals and was effective .. Hodgson battled through many of the league's top checkers and still produced with amazing consistency .. he is four points away from setting the Battalion all-time playoff scoring record, currently held by Wolski (42) .. Hodgson is a committed player in the gym and has made strength, conditioning, and diet a number 1 priority and it shows on the ice .. Hodgson has all the tools to be a successful number 2 centre next season for the Canucks and will become an instant leader in the dressing room.

Matt Duchene (2009), RW, C, Brampton

Duchene has elevated his game in the playoffs with a whopping 13 goals including five game winners .. he is an extremely productive player with a lot of fire power .. his relentless work ethic and hunger for the puck in the offensive zone makes him a threat every time he is on the ice .. his patience with the puck makes him a capable set-up man, however Duchene is known more for his finishing skills .. he has a lethal shot off either wing .. his shot requires little to no back swing and explodes off his stick .. he does not give up once he has shot either, as he charges the net with authority and is always looking to knock home a rebound .. he has worked diligently to improve his defensive play .. he kills penalties well because he persistently chases down the pointman and uses his speed advantageously .. an intelligent player both on and off the ice blessed with a graceful stride and uncanny first-step quickness .. he has handsome moves in tight and varies his play by making passes when defenders and the goalie have played the shot .. he is not a selfish player .. he gets chopped at because he goes to the danger areas but does not seem to mind the punishment .. he was being targeted early in the OHL finals in an attempt to take him off his game .. he has not been hit often and the added abuse appeared to have taken its toll on him .. benefits from drawing second checking line assignments, as the focus has been thrust on the Hodgson and Grachev line .. Duchene will be a very special player at the NHL level, as he embodies a scoring touch that NHL teams covet.