Sarnia Sting have a healthy Alex Galchenyuk: 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.

Team name

In 2011-12 — 34-27-2-5, 75 points; fourth, Western Conference. Lost 4-2 to Saginaw in first round.

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — 11th OHL, 32nd CHL.

Drafted — C Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal Canadiens, first round), D Connor Murphy (Phoenix Coyotes, first), LW Reid Boucher (New Jersey Devils, fourth), G JP Anderson (San Jose Sharks, free-agent signing).

Draft watch — LW Davis Brown and playmaking C Daniel Nikandrov (who is 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds) each thrived in a strong Junior B league as 16-year-olds. Rushing defenceman Anthony DeAngelo is eligible in 2014.

1. Is the now healthy Galchenyuk the favourite for the scoring title?

Sorry to Klosterman it, but it's all in how you ask the question. The Habs first-rounder lit it up with 80 points two seasons ago, which was 31 more than any 16-year-old produced last winter. With running mates up front such as Boucher (28 goals last season) and overage Charlie Sarault (87 points, including an OHL-high 67 assists), it's easy to picture Galchenyuk averaging close to two points per game, especially if the Sting need that from him. It does depend on how much the No. 3 overall pick plays for Sarnia. Galchenyuk is likely to miss time to play for Team USA in the world junior championship and is in the realm of players who might get pulled away for a NHL training camp when the lockout ends.

It's not a crazy thought to think Boucher or Sarault, each more assured of being available for all 68 games, might take the scoring crown.

2. Does coach-GM Jacques Beaulieu have enough depth to keep his team's head above water?

Beaulieu made a big splash (see what I did there?) with a nearly endless series of trades last season, but injuries and instability contributed to the Sting failing to get out of second gear. With Nail Yakupov and other steadies (Ryan Spooner, Brett Thompson, Adrian Robertson) having moved on, Sarnia will have a slightly different look. Two of the incoming forwards, 16-year-old Russian Nikolay Goldobin and 18-year-old North Carolina native Bryan Moore, formerly of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers, also lit it up in exhibition. Granted, that was see-what-they-can-do situation where both were given a lot of ice time, but each could be a good secondary scorer in good time. Sarnia only lost one member of its defence corps, which is headed by U.S. world junior rearguard Connor Murphy.

3. How far are they from sustainable success?

The Sting have the unique distinction of having as many NHL lottery picks (3) in the past five years as playoff series wins during their first 18 seasons in Sarnia. While very few players can reach the strata of Yakupov, Galchenyuk or Steven Stamkos, it's a ready-made recruiting tool for the franchise. There really is no external reason it shouldn't pay off in a stronger franchise overall. Beaulieu at the very least went all out last season adding experienced talent. Sarnia should not slide back too far in the standings thanks to its top-end talent, but Year 2 (and 3) under Beaulieu will be a good measuring stick of how it can groom a nucleus of players.

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