Barrie Colts might have the horses: OHL Burning Questions

With the OHL season beginning this week, BTN is taking an early look at each team in reverse order of last season's standings.

Barrie Colts

In 2011-12 — 40-23-3-2, 85 points; third, Eastern Conference. Lost 4-3 to Ottawa in second round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — sixth OHL, 22nd CHL.

Drafted — C Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets, first round), RW Anthony Camara (Boston Bruins, third), C/LW Andreas Athanasiou (Detroit Red Wings, fourth) D Alex Lepkowski (Buffalo Sabres, fifth).

Draft watch — D Alex Yuill is undersized but efficient; 18-year-old C Erik Bradford also made strides late last season. Backup G Alex Fotinos had a promising first season.

1. Will their defence be one of the league's most active and will that give them a leg up?

Two seasons ago, Barrie's Central Ontario friends in Owen Sound won the league title thanks to having defenders such as current Toronto Maple Leafs farmhand Jesse Blacker who could fortify the offence without sacrificing defence. Barrie might not have a brand-name rushing defenceman (there's only one Ryan Murphy in a given year). However, its potency up front could be helped a great deal by the likes of captain Ryan O'Connor (who once played for Canada's under-18 team), still-only-sixteen-years-old Aaron Ekblad and fellow sophomore Yuill, not to mention Lepkowski.

A high volume of zone time means ample opportunity for Scheifele to do his thing. In any other season, the 19-year-old centre would be ticketed for some NHL duty.

2. Are Athanasiou, et al., adequate replacements after their three leading scorers moved on?

Tanner Pearson, Ivan Telegin and Colin Behenna took 229 points with them, but the pantry is still relatively well-stocked. The Colts have 13 skaters who are either 18 or 19. Athanasiou ought to be utilized more as an offensive player after leaving London, while 19-year-olds Steven Beyers and Zach Hall each produced 50-point seasons last winter in second and third-line duty. Bruising Anthony Camara doubled his offensive totals from his age-17 to his 18 season.

One would think a team that improved by 51 points would have tapped out its potential, but there's still something left for Barrie and coach Dale Hawerchuk.

3. Is Mathias Niederberger a candidate for goalie of the year?

An import goalie has never been voted the league's top netminder. That will probably remain the same this season since the prospective Canadian and U.S. national junior team starters, Belleville's Malcolm Subban and Kitchener's John Gibson, are legitimate stars who will benefit from the high visibility that comes with playing on a strong team and being in the world junior. Niederberger could actually be more critical to his team's chances. The German overage was steady as rent once he acclimatized to the OHL, cutting his average by 0.50 per game from the end of November through the end of the regular season and also dazzling in the playoffs. He might have to kick it up another notch for Barrie to contend. Fotinos should be one of the league's best understudies.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.