Q: What is the status of Patrick Elias? Will he be back in the Devils' lineup soon?
-- Gord from Calgary, Alberta
A: Well, as Thanksgiving approached, the Devils were on a trip, and Elias, still dealing with the symptoms of hepatitis, was not with the club. In fact, he had not yet practiced with the Devils.

An optimistic guess here would be that the 29-year-old Elias would make it back around mid-December, but no one truly knows.

Meanwhile, coach Larry Robinson says he's hopeful that the Elias of old will get back in there sometime this year.

“Just to watch him on the ice (practicing by himself) shows you what kind of player he is,” Robinson said. “Who knows what kind of player he will be with the new rules.”

If he can regain his previous strength and speed, Elias, previously with a career high of 96 points, easily could cross the 100-point plateau.

Q: Isn't all the talk about Bryan McCabe being the front-runner for the Norris Trophy way premature? He's a good player, but I can't see him ever winning the award, can you?
--Phil from Dearborn, Mich.
A: Sounds to me, Phil, like you're vastly underselling McCabe. Sure you're not an aspiring G.M.? The 30-year-old back liner, originally an Islanders pick, was in the hunt for the Norris in 2003-'04, and his game got a very nice boost when the Leafs picked up Brian Leetch to play with him down the stretch that season.

OK, in a true Norris definition, purely as a defenseman, McCabe's game is a quirky fit, because he is far more offensive-minded. But that's the way the game is going with the new rules, and it's almost impossible for anyone to play true defense. Even Ray Bourque would have had trouble defending in this game.

McCabe, from day one of the new season, has been out front on the scoring list for D-men in 2005-'06. Unless he is hurt, I suspect he'll lead that points category throughout the season, and easily will shatter his previous career high of 53 points.

His best competion probably will be Scott Niedermayer, the most recent Norris winner. The Ducks, Niedermayer's new club, haven't gotten off to a very good start, which won't help him gain Norris votes. An easy win for McCabe? Hardly. But right now, I'd imagine he'll finish first or second in the balloting. His game has improved, especially on offense, and the game has changed — a perfect combination for him.

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