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Brampton Battalion need to score more: 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.

Brampton Battalion

In 2011-12 — 36-22-3-7, 82 points; fourth, Eastern Conference. Lost 4-0 to Niagara in second round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — fourth OHL, 19th CHL.

Drafted — D Dylan Blujus (Tampa Bay Lightning, third round).

Draft watch — LW Brandon Robinson was the Troops' only 16-year-old regular last season; he has promise but next season is his draft year; RW Mike Amadio is also one to watch for 2014.

1. Does depth plus defence equal at least a division title?

The Battalion stack up as a veteran team (16 players aged 18 or older) that will do as a Stan Butler-coached team does: try to turn each game into a teeth-gnashing first-goal-wins struggle: oh, you thought you might score on the power play? We've been fifth or higher in in penalty killing for five consecutive seasons. Good luck with that. It is not pretty to watch for fans of the other 19 teams, but Brampton thrived by living on the margins last season. It's possible the law of averages could tip against them, but returning all seven defenceman en masse, including overage leader Cameron Wind, could help them be as airtight as usual in their own zone.

2. Who takes ownership of the offence?

Those who thought the Battalion pulled off a top-four finish using smoke and mirrors would point to the obvious facts that they scored only 199 goals with only Sam Carrick (now in the AHL) and Barclay Goodrow tallying at least 50 points. They were 16th in goals scored and Butler has stated his team needs to be in the top 10 at least. It's possible they could add a sniper if they're in position to contend (can we call that going on a snipe hunt?). For the time being, they have a budding offensive defenceman with Blujus, whose 34 points was a solid total for a 17-year-old in light of Brampton's 'austerity offence' and lack of a crackling power play. Centre Patrik Machac, who had 32 points in his first junior season after leaving the Czech Republic, should continue progressing. Goodrow, who scored 26 goals last season, also offers the big-body-with-hands combo needed on a team that counts on cycling the puck and wearing out teams. Robinson and Amadio also showed flashes of potential in preseason, not enough to predict that they'll become offensive leaders right away, but enough to suggest they could be vital sources of secondary scoring despite their youth.

3. Does there have to the obligatory question about relocation since the team is negotiating an arena lease?

Yes, there does and while answering a question with a question is rude, is there a soft landing out there? The Battalion's struggle to be noticed amid the urban sprawl of Brampton is what it is, but the only possibilities for an OHL team involve former league cities without 21st-century arenas, pipe dreams and markets that haven't shown an appetite for major junior hockey. Battalion owner Scott Abbott hasn't threatened to sell the team, which suggests Brampton will sign a new arena lease and stay put.

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