OHL: Sergeant Saguinetti Leads Battalion

After finishing fifth last in the league and swept in the opening round of the playoffs last season, the Battalion made one key acquisition in the off-season by adding New York Rangers first round selection (2006) defenseman Bob Saguinetti. The move gives them a coveted offensive-minded defenseman capable of launching attacks or making a first pass to a series of quick players already on the roster. The Battalion also scored huge on the draft table landing Matt Duchene, a player many thought was a potential first overall pick. McKeen's profiles several Battalion players as they look to reestablish themselves in the East.

Cody Hodgson (2008), C, Brampton

Hodgson is an offensive-minded player first and foremost but has made tremendous strides in his play away from the puck .. he was the beneficiary of substantial icetime to start the season last year, resulting in a bulk of his points, especially on the PP .. when given time and space he is lethal, as he is one of the deadliest players in the league with a man advantage .. his vision and passing skills are in the upper echelon of the league .. processes the game well and is a threat in the neutral zone, as he can intercept a pass in smaller confines .. his skating is a tad weak and his speed is average however, he has a good work ethic which somewhat compensates .. hard to knock off the puck due to his low centre of gravity, strength on his skates and overall balance .. plays a smart small man's game and should continue to flourish as coach Butler believes in him.

Mike Lomas (2008), LW, Brampton

Buried on a team deep at the left wing position, Lomas will not receive much PP time this season .. a fast player with clever stickhandling skills .. he can take passes on both his forehand and backhand in full flight .. controls errand pucks well, as he displays good athleticism .. not overly big but he plays much bigger than his size .. an intense competitor who will drive to the net even though it means he will be punished .. was reckless last year however, he seems to have adopted a more methodical approach this season, as when to go and when to let the play come to him .. his ability to engage in the cycle game, recover pucks for his centre and play against other team's top performers, which will be his calling card this season.

Kyle DeCoste (2008), RW, Brampton

Another player on the third line, shutdown unit .. he is a support player who acts as a safety valve when playing with offensive-minded players.. he is not overly offensive but will follow the play to the net .. skating speed and agility are average but he is strong on his skates .. good-sized winger, which he takes advantage of in a checking role .. he needs to constantly keep his feet moving as not to loose a step on the opposition .. uses his body efficiently but does not go out of his way to thrash people .. would benefit from occasionally stirring the pot as to energize his team, as he can be a sleeping giant at times.

Patrick Killeen (2008), G, Brampton

After playing in a handful of games last season, Killeen, one of the tallest goalies in the league (6-4), looks poised to steal playing time from his partner and Edmonton draft pick Bryan Pitton .. no specific style, he does not do anything great but does many things right .. he takes advantage of his size by squaring off, although he could do a better job challenging shooters .. his rebound control is ok as he smothers them quickly .. his lateral movement could be improved if he were a better skater .. not overly adept at handling the puck, he prefers to let his defenseman come back and move it .. his down-low coverage is fine, as his long legs protect the bottom portion of the goal .. at times, his stance is too extended and he leaves gapping holes in his armor when he recovers .. has the appearance of a butterfly stretching its wings .. as is the case with most goalies with confidence it is amazing how they perform, so with continued starts against superior opposition his game can only grow.

Bob Sanguinetti (NYR), D, Brampton

Last season could have been a major blimp on the radar screen as it was obvious something was bothering him .. while he should have made improvements in his point production, his totals actually dropped .. his only positive might have been his 23 goals, which ranked second in the league .. the change of scenery could be exactly what Sanguinetti needs, as early indications suggest he has fit in nicely .. an ultra smooth-skating defender in the straightaway .. he cannot dangle like a Doughty because he cannot weave in and around defenders, rather he pushes them back out of sheer intimidation .. his offensive imagination and ability to create off the rush are one of the best in the league .. he bursts up the ice and acts as a fourth forward sometimes leaving his forwards behind and doing it all by himself .. he will follow up the play to create an odd man rush, trail in for a drop pass or drive the net for a rebound .. his wristshot explodes of his stick and could be one of the most accurate in the league .. outstanding QB skills on the PP, as he commands unheralded respect amongst his peers .. defense has always been an issue with Sanguinetti and his biggest problem is his stop and start ability in a reverse movement .. he gets confused with checking assignments and often finds himself out of position - giving forwards more ice to make a decision .. will see ice in every situation and the offence should be geared around him almost exclusively this season.

Matt Duchene (2009), C, Brampton

Duchene made a name for himself at the tender age of 14 when it was reported he made a verbal agreement to attend Michigan, as he was such a sought after prospect .. the Battalion has a way of coaxing players to join their program and after several meetings, it was decided that the fifth overall selection would in fact report .. many pegged the 5-foot-11, 180-pound-centre to be a first overall pick, as he scored at an alarming rate in his OHL draft year averaging more than a goal and point per game .. a speedy, extremely agile player .. he opens up ice for his teammates by employing many dekes and fakes in a confined space .. he has the first-step quickness to blow by defenders to the outside .. his speed also allows his teammates more space, as he is all over the ice trying to make things happen .. he dances in and out of openings to keep the defense honest .. at times, he can be selfish when using his shot however, it is a great weapon and should terrorize goalies for many years to come .. could be a very dangerous player if he gets his confidence up by scoring early and seeing second-unit PP time .. one to definitely watch for next season.