Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in tough, must tighten up: OHL Burning Questions

The Ontario Hockey League regular season begins this week. They play one of these every winter? Man, it never ends. With the days getting shorter and the season getting nearer, BTN is taking an early look at each team in reverse order of last season's standings.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

In 2012-13 — 36-26-3-3, .574 point pct., 259 GF/254 GA. Sixth, Western Conference. Lost 4-2 to Owen Sound in first round .

Final Dynamic Dozen ranking — ninth OHL, 23rd CHL.

Drafted — D Darnell Nurse (Edmonton Oilers, first round), G Matt Murray (Pittsburgh Penguins, third), D Tyler Ganly (Carolina Hurricanes, sixth), LW Mitchell Dempsey (Boston Bruins, seventh), RW Sergey Tolchinsky (Carolina, signed as free agent).

2014 NHL draft watch — C Jared McCann, who helped Canada win the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tourney in August, is considered first-round material. Forward Trent Mallette, a 5-foot-10 energy player, could win some favour with scouts. Second-year D Kevin Spinozzi's mean streak could make him a draft darkhorse.

1. Why would it be impossible for GM Kyle Dubas to move 19-year-old starting goalie Murray or his captain Nurse, whom some Edmonton folks might like to see in the NHL full-time come fall 2014?

The Kyle Dubas Pyramid of Greatness seems to include a big move during the first half, based on an exceedingly small two-year sample size. Last season, it was the inspiring hiring of Sheldon Keefe, which helped the 'Hounds scoot up from ninth to a strong sixth. Two years ago, Dubas sold the farm for Jack Campbell, only to have the three-time world junior goalie's former team in Windsor beat the Soo out for a playoff spot. That, coupled with the base desire to see a team cash in graduating players' dwindling availability for future reward, explains any clamouring for the 'Hounds to move their goaltender.

That's the macro perspective. The micro is the 'Hounds have not enjoyed successful playoff berths since 2007 and '08. With six of their top eight scorers from '12-13 gone, the 'Hounds need an improvement on defence to off-set the mass exodus of scoring punch. That likely makes the 6-foot-5 Murray, who acquitted himself well in a matchup with OHL goalie of the year Jordan Binnington in the 2012 post-season and earned a contract with Pittsburgh, probably too valuable for the 'Hounds to consider moving.

That micro dealie also applies with Nurse, whom Edmonton might be wise to keep in the OHL.. The 6-foot-5 defender, as a first-rounder out of minor midget, followed three consecutive 'Hounds top picks who were all eventually traded. There likely could be some more than symbolic importance attached to having Nurse be a one-team player.

2. How much of the lost scoring can possibly be replaced over the course of this season?

The Soo's turnover included 103-point scorer Nick Cousins, whom seemingly only the league's disciplinary arm could keep from winning the scoring title, along with two premier offensive defencemen, Detroit Red Wings prospect Ryan Sproul and Los Angeles Kings prospect Colin Miller. The latter two were the only D-men to reach the 20-goal mark, which suggests they will be the toughest to replace.

McCann and Tolchinsky each have a high ceiling as offensive catalysts, while overage wing Andrew Fritsch is a two-time 25-goal scorer and 19-year-old Norwegian newcomer Jorgen Karterud, another 6-5 guy, could present a matchup problem. The pantry is not completely bare up front. Make no mistake, though, the Soo will be more reliant on the blueline, helmed by Nurse, Ganly and 19-year-old Alex Gudbranson.

3. What helps bolster their case to be a playoff team?

The shifting balance of power in the OHL. It's not for nothing the most riveting first-round series last spring was between the Soo and Owen Sound Attack, since both were veteran clubs. Each had heavy turnover. The difference is that the Attack fanbase's hunger to see a winner is still slaked after that 2011 OHL championship, plus it faces the London-Guelph-Kitchener-Erie gauntlet in the Midwest Division. The West, with the Plymouth Whalers and Sarnia Sting each at the start of a new growth cycle, is a smoother ride.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.