Help! First Third Questions?

[CupWanted]

So were a little more than a third of the way throught the NHL season and I think the time has come to ask a few questions about each NHL team. If you live in the market or follow the team please chime in!

Atlantic:
New Jersey Devils
-Its really the same old same old for this group. Always quietly solid. I think they could use an elite defensemen come trade deadline, but Andy Greene thinks he's filling the spot.

New York Islanders
-Umm, anyone have some defense for sale?
-Who's the odd man out in the Biron, Roloson, DiPietro tandem when Dipietro comes back?

New York Rangers
-Who's going to pick up the secondary scoring? Gaborik has been a stud but chris drury and his 8 million doillar contract is now a 3rd liner.
-When does Henrik Lundqvist return to elite form?

Philadelphia Flyers
-Are they goaltender shopping? If so who's the target? cap room is sparse.
-When do they put it all together, they arguably have the best defense and forwards in the east?

Pittsburgh Penguins
-Doing what the stanley cup champs are supposed to. They're deep, have a great assortment of youth and veterans, grit and skill, a very well rounded team, except for crysby being a pansy, but thats a different post. No questions here. Keep it up Pittsburgh.

Northeast
Boston Bruins
-Where does the secondary scoring come from? We know Savard can play but someone in the Krejci/Ryder/Wheeler group needs to step up. Who is it?

Buffalo Sabres
-Can Ryan Miller continue to play like a vezina winner all season?
-When will their top six forwards start scoring goals on a regular basis?
-Can Tyler Myers, the rookie #1 Defenseman, play like he has all season, or will he hit the proverbial rookie wall?

Montreal Canadians
-The proof you can't build a team via free agency.
-Who else is going to score besides Cammalleri?
-Are they going to be good again when Markov returns?

Ottawa Senators
-Does the Spezza injury begin the freefall? They mustered 2 goals last night but that won't be good enough on most nights.

Toronto Maple Leafs
-Just when I thought they were getting back up they fall right back down.
-Who's The #1 Goaltender? Do they have one?
-When will they get some consistent forward scoring? A lot of guys have showed flashes of greatness (Grabovsky, Kessel, Stajan, Kulemin, Blake) who steps up for good?
-Is it just the goaltending or has the D been bad as well, despit bringing in so many well thought of blue liners.
-Why is Schenn riding the pine?

Southeast
Atlanta Thrashers
-Will their goaltending hold up? Its been keeping in games while they get continuously outshot. If it doesn't they will be very bad.

Carolina Hurricanes
-WIll Ward return to form?
-Even if he does is there enough of a team around he and Eric Staal for them to make a run?

Florida Panthers
-Who's going to score goals? Horton? Weiss?
-Vokoun will have to be spectacular for them to make the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Lightning
-Is there enough defense here to stop enough pucks to win games? The hedman, Ohlund experiment seems to be failing.
-Are Vinny's days in TB numbered?

Washington Capitals
-Can they play enough D to make a run in the playoffs?
-Is varlamov for real?

Central
Chicago Blackhawks
-Is Huet enough for this team to make a playoff run? The talent is there.

Columbus Bluejackets
-WHich Steve Mason will play the remainder of the season?
-Can you put a bet on this team with any confidence right now?
-Is something else wrong?

Detoit Redwings
-Are they still competitive despite the major injuries? What happens when they get healthy?
-Is there a tue No. 1 goaltender in this organization? if so who?

Nashville Preadtors
-Is there enough scoring to make a run?
-Can you ever predict this team?

St. Louis Blues
-They have a ton of young talent, will they ever realize it?
-Is Chris Mason this good?

Northwest
Calgary
-Wheres the secondary scoring?
-Who's the answer at backup goaltender?

Colorado
-Is Anderson really this good? I think he is.
-So much youth, do they hit a wall eventually?

Edmonton
-Umm, a little offensive consistency please?
-Are there too many puck moving defensemen on this back end for them to ever be a contender?
-Which Khabby shows up night in and night out?

Minnesota
-Who puts the puck in the net more consistently?


Vancouver
-Which Luongo shows up on a given night?
-THis is a well rounded team, now that they're healthy do they make a run at the NW?

Pacific
Anaheim
-Will they turn it around when they get some forwards back?
-Can the defense turn it around? The tenders are getting hung out to dry
-Wheres Getzlaf?

Dallas Stars
-Which Turco SHows up each night?
-WHo scores every night? A little consistency please?
-They were great at shootouts, what happened?

Los Angeles
-Is this team a contender or pretender? We're going to find out soon.
-Is quick really a #1 goaltender?

Phoenix
-Can they keep up a high level of play? Contender or pretender?

San Jose
-Can they develop some consistency?
-WHo scores besides the dominant first line?
-Is Nabakov still an eltie tender?

[CupWanted]

I'm a sabres fan and will answer those questions as best I can:
Yes Miller is this good, we've just been waiting for him to realize his talent. BUT, the Sabres will need someone to step up as a solid number 2 because Miller has proven over his career that he can't handle a Kipprusoff type workload. If no No.2 tender steps up then the Sabres will be in trouble. (Don't forget Miller will also be starting for Team USA this season on top of his NHL games)
The Sabres need more grit in their offensive ranks as they struggle getting to the net at even strength. If they can acquire a power forward they will be a very solid offensive group. They excell against teams that give up lots of powerplay opportunities as Vanek is IMO the best front of the net guy on the PP in the NHL. This group must step it up though as the season carries on if they want to go deep in the play-offs. IE they can't keep beating up the islanders and maple leafs and play 1 goal games against everyone else.
And Tyler Myers is the real deal. I've never seen a defenseman of his calibre in Buffalo ever, and he's in his first season. I don't think he hits a wall.

[don logan]

Half the teams will make the playoffs, so this is pretty open ended. Even Carolina could get in.

From betting standpoint, several teams that play good defense but don't score cashed some easy money betting 'under' so far, but prices are jacked up so high on these you gotta start finding other angles to bet imo. Same with fading Carolina, Toronto, etc.

[CupWanted]

I'm mostly interested in this from a betting stnadpoint. Theres a bunch of teams this season that I just can't figure right now. I thought Toronto had figured it out but they proved me wrong last night. I don't get to watch many Toronto games so I'm not sure what the problem is up there, the defense, or the goaltending. If its the defense they're in a world of hurt, if its the goaltending thats more of a streaky problem that will get better over time.
I also cant figure out the Bluejackets. Theres a lot of talent on that team but boy do they suck right now.
Same for the Redwings, granted they have a ton of guys who are injured, they aren't playing great hockey.
Same for philly, and although they got smacked around by the penguins they played some good puck in that game. I think they'll really start to turn it around. They have too many great skaters.

[don logan]

Detroit's getting tons of shots on goal but very few of them are going in. I think of all the offensively "challenged" teams right now, Wings are the team most likely to break out of it.

[Hybris]

-When does Henrik Lundqvist return to elite form?

Hard to win games when your team cant score