Q: I'm a big Sharks fan, but I am starting to lose faith that they can make a run at a playoff spot. There is a decent gap now in points between the top eight team in the West and everyone else. Of the top eight, which team(s) could you see stumbling down the stretch?
— Steve C. from Santa Clara, Calif.
A: If there is a way for the Sharks to jiggle their way into a postseason berth, it's all about goaltending — their own, as well as that in Vancouver and Colorado.

The Sharks will score enough to be in most games the rest of the way, thanks to the trade for Joe Thornton. Jumbo Joe will score a few himself, but he's first and foremost a setup man, and that has meant a big boost to the likes of Jonathan Cheechoo.

However, San Jose needs much-improved goaltending in the second half from its No. 1, Evgeni Nabokov. He began the season with a career GAA of 2.34, and by mid-January he stood a disappointing 3.02, with a save percentage of .890. Not once this season has his percentage reached .900. Without Brad Stuart (shipped to Boston in the Thornton trade) helping out on defense, Nabokov won't have an easier time in the second half. But he somehow must get better, in a hurry.

Meanwhile, the Canucks and Avs, no matter what spin their front offices provide, must upgrade their goaltending. The longer they stand pat with what they've got in net, the better chance the Sharks have of catching them for a No. 7 or No. 8 seed. But frankly, I think you'll see both clubs swing trades to improve in net, and sooner rather than later.

Q: Because he was waived by the Devils, what happens to Alexander Mogilny's money as it relates to the salary cap? Is the team responsible as in the NBA or does the player lose out as in the NFL?
— Mark Emanuel from Sicklerville, N.J.
A: In the NHL, like the NBA but unlike the NFL, all contracts are guaranteed. In very rare instances, clubs will buy a player out of his contract, but the relief to the club is minimal.

The buyout formula, in simple terms: Two-thirds of all dollars owed, paid out to the athlete over twice the term. The buyout window is very brief, lasting just a few days before the start of the July 1 free-agent period each year. Example: If a player is owed $10 million over two years, he can be bought out for $6.67 million, his payments to be made over four years. No buyouts are allowed during the season.

Now, in Mogilny's case, he signed a two-year deal last summer, worth $3.75 million for this season, and the same for next season. When he was waived, and later assigned to Albany (AHL), he did not suffer a pay reduction. However, the Devils, as provided by the collective bargaining agreement, immediately withdrew the balance of his salary from their cap figure. As long as he remains in the minors, on waivers, his ongoing earnings no longer factor into the Devils cap figure.

If New Jersey recalls Mogilny, and he clears waivers “on the way up,” he immediately goes back on New Jersey's cap figure (remember: he will have been paid full salary the whole time).

Here's the slight curveball: If Mogilny were placed on waivers “on the way up,'' and another NHL club were to claim him, the Devils would be obligated to pay only half his salary for the remainder of his contract.

However, despite getting that cash-flow relief, they also would be obligated to count that discounted salary figure against their cap.

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