Oshawa Generals seek East repeat: OHL Burning Questions

Starting from the top of last season's standings, it is time for OHL Burning Questions. For your consideration, the Oshawa Generals.

Last season went like — Once it got Scott Laughton back from the Philadelphia Flyers, Oshawa assumed top spot in the Eastern Conference and never gave it back. Michael Dal Colle factored into 42 per cent of their scoring and they blew through the soft underbelly of the conference before finding out in the third round that they couldn't suppress the speed and size of the North Bay Battalion's forwards

2013-14, by the numbers — 42-20-0-6, .662 point pct., 227 GF/178 GA. First, Eastern Conference. Lost 4-0 to North Bay in conference final.

On the junior-or-pro bubble — C-LW Michael Dal Colle went No. 5 overall to the New York Islanders in the NHL draft in June, but should be back for at least one more OHL season.

Drafted — Dal Colle (New York Islanders, first round), RW Hunter Smith (Calgary Flames, second), C Cole Cassels (Vancouver Canucks, third), overage D Josh Brown (Florida Panthers, sixth).

2015 NHL Draft watch — D Mitch Vande Sompel is a promising puck-moving defenceman, while C Sam Harding got a lot of playing time by rookie standards. Rookie G Jeremy Brodeur, Martin Brodeur's son, is a first-time eligible.

1. How strong of a supporting cast will MDC have?

Is that code for whether they can replace Laughton? Well, yes. Reigning coach of the year D.J. Smith comes into the season with a returning 95-point scorer and a lineup that includes, at this writing, a baker's dozen of 19-year-olds and overages. Replacing everything Laughton brought to the party as a two-way centre seems rather daunting.

The 6-foot-7 Smith, after becoming a NHL second-rounder as a re-entry player, will be under a spotlight. The Gens likely will also need more other returnees who are in range of getting a foothold with the pros. Nineteen-year-old Bradley Latour (47 points in his age-18 year) has an opportunity to become a leader or scorer. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Busch, who thanks to an injury missed a chance to attend the main camp of the Arizona Coyotes (where ex-Gens GM Jeff Twohey is now director of amateur scouting), is also expected to solidify the top three lines.

2. Who emerges to shore up a back end that graduated two overages?

Step right up, Stephen Desrocher? With a trio of.elders, captain Josh Brown, fellow overage Chris Carlisle and 19-year-old Will Petschenig, the Gens needed one more to complete the front four. Desrochers, who is 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, came on strongly as last season played out and made himself indispensable enough that Oshawa ran with seven defencemen in the playoffs.

More offence out of the back end would also come in handy. Oshawa didn't have a player in the top 40 of defenceman scoring last season, which seems like a vacancy that Vande Sompel might be ready to plug.

3. Is it fair to put a question mark next to the goaltending?

Everything should be earned — I read that on a T-shirt once — not given, so new 19-year-old starting goalie Ken Appleby and his backup, Brodeur, have something to prove. Appleby, listed at 6-foot-4, began to settle in over the second half of last season. He also had development opportunities with both Arizona and the Chicago Blackhawks, so there is that. Brodeur, who turns 18 in late October, is new to the league.

The departed Daniel Altshuller (2.56 average, .917 save pct. across 52 games) always seemed to left out of conversations about the league's best cord cottagers. Appleby/Brodeur will be out to keep Gens fans from revisiting the old 'you don't know what you got till it's gone' saw.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.