OHL: Duchene Leading Battalion

After a slow start, the Brampton Battalion have rebounded nicely thanks to going unbeaten in 18 straight games. The tandem of Matt Duchene and Cody Hodgson has been nothing short of brilliant. The emergence of Brandon Foote has also helped the Battalion capture top spot in the Central Division. McKeen's looks at several Brampton players poised for the NHL draft, including Duchene currently ranked third overall on McKeen's preliminary draft list.

Matt Duchene (2009), C, Brampton

A surprise omission by the Team Canada WJC selection committee after being a part of both the Under 17 and Under 18 programs, wearing a letter in both tournaments .. Duchene continues to impress with his hair-trigger release and has a knack for finding the open spaces of the net .. has looked a tad tentative in recent games, in all likelihood due to his shoulder injury, which he has shown signs of favouring .. can do little things in the offensive zone that lead to success .. holding the line, curling off a defender and/or batting down loose pucks with uncanny precision all round out his skill set/package .. he still has a tendency to cheat in the offensive zone and not always commit himself effectively on the backcheck .. his attention to defensive detail needs to improve, but his offensive attributes are superiorly advanced to his peers.

Matt Clark (2009), D, Brampton

Clark spent the past two seasons playing in the OPJHL for the Brampton Capitals, the 217th overall pick in the 2006 OHL draft has elevated his game and is being mentioned amongst the NHL draft-eligible prospects .. a late birth year has allowed Clark to develop his game and physically grow into his body .. at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he is one of the bigger defensemen in the league and plays like it as well .. he has nastiness to his game and rubs guys out along the boards when the opportunity presents itself .. his footwork is ok, however when crossing over in a reverse movement he tends to take too many steps .. decent speed in a straight line and does possess above-average agility for a player of his size .. he uses this agility to defend and can close the gap rather quickly due to his long languid stride .. he makes room for himself due to his physical aggression, which helps him not only to defend but also to handle the puck .. his puck skills are not polished and he struggles to make a good first pass and/or log the puck up ice .. his game is very raw but he does fit the mould of a prototypical defensive defenseman.

Brandon Foote (2009), G, Brampton

Foote has excelled with the added responsibility and improved his record in the process, as he sits with a record of 11-1 at the Christmas break .. more of a reflex goalie than a technical one, his style is that of a butterfly, but he anticipates the play quickly .. a smaller goalie that does not fill the nets but can move post-to-post and as such, is difficult to beat down low .. he tends to go down early and is beaten up high .. his rebound control could also use some additional attention to detail .. he needs to be constantly aware of staying in the middle of the net .. he favours his right side when sliding across the crease .. could do a better job using his edges .. Foote has shown remarkable composure of not only stepping into the role but succeeding in it so much that he currently has stolen the number one position from Killeen .. with Killeen being so inconsistent, coach Butler will have a hard decision to make come playoff time .. should Foote capture that job and carry the Battalion past a first round, a feat that has not been accomplished in two seasons, his draft stock should soar.

Sam Carrick (2010), C, Brampton

Carrick continues to improve and gives the Battalion a character player who is willing to sacrifice himself to win hockey games .. not blessed with great speed, Carrick understands where to go in the offensive zone and is difficult to move in front .. he takes abuse and is a fierce competitor down low that coach Butler has put the 16-year old on the first PP unit .. athletic, he is able to settle down loose pucks and make plays along the wall .. he is not a great stickhandler but his brute strength enables him to power his way deep into the offensive zone .. elusive in his coverage, he is able to slither past the opposition and get to scoring areas .. Carrick has the potential to be a captain, as he embodies a strong work ethic and backs it up with a modest skill set.