Q: Is there more to the slow start for Chris Pronger and the Ducks than simply the loss of Scott Niedermayer?
— Kevin Biden from Port Huron, Mich.
A: Frankly, Kevin, I think you might be confusing the slow start of the Ducks with a slow start for Pronger. By my eye, he's still the same player, operating at the same level, playing the same game, as he was last season when the Ducks won the Cup.

Now, why are the Ducks not performing to the standard they set last season? You answered part of it: Niedermayer's absence is huge. They are also without Teemu Selanne, who led the offense last year with 48 goals. And if I were spotting someone whose game has dipped dramatically from 2006-'07, I'd look at Andy McDonald right now. He scored 27 goals and collected 78 points last year, and through the start of November, he was on pace for about half-a-loaf (38 points). And they're paying him a lot of money ($3.33 million) for that half-a-loaf.

The good news for the Anaheim back line that remains a Niedermayer-free zone: Mathieu Schneider, hobbled from the start of the season, is finally back. The night of his return, he connected for the shootout winner over Columbus, and followed that with a 1-2--3 night vs. Phoenix.

''Suddenly, now that Schneider's back'' said Ducks boss Brian Burke, ''I'm a much smarter GM. Funny how that works, isn't it?''

Q: What's wrong with the Canucks? I thought they'd challenge in the West, but so far, not so good.
— M.H. from Denver
A: It's a familiar lament to Canucks fans, M.H., but it's true — the 'Nucks thus far don't have the kind of scoring depth it takes to win on a consistent basis.

When Roberto Luongo is his air-tight self, which is most of the time, then he can keep any team in the game. In fact, most nights he is dominating enough to win games almost by himself. But every goalie needs scoring support, too, and like a lot of clubs throughout the league, Vancouver just doesn't pot enough goals when brothers Henrik and Daniel Sedin aren't on the ice.

Bob Duff on the NHL Red, White and New Best crop of young Americans since mid-80s taking NHL by storm

Which brings us to their franchise forward, Markus Naslund. Prior to the lockout, the talented left winger finally evolved as one of the game's true stars, averaging over 90 points in the three seasons leading up to the lost NHL season. When the league resumed play in 2005-'06, he fell back to 79 points, and then dipped yet again (60) last season. Through the first month of this season, Naslund collected only 11 points in 14 games — a pace that would bring him a humdrum 65 points this year.

Now 34 years old and on the books for $6 million this season, Naslund looks as if he has come to the end of the road here in North America. He is a free agent July 1 and has spoken before, usually amid contract negotiations, of a yearning to return to Sweden, where he starred with MoDo prior to beginning his NHL career with Pittsburgh. Unless he finds some giddyup in his game soon, or decides he'll work for substantially less next season, I fully expect he'll being going home for good next summer.

Q: Think Ed Belfour will return to the NHL? Or will he continue playing in Europe until he's ready to retire?
— Steve from N.Y.
A: Unable to find a guaranteed NHL job, Belfour headed to Sweden and signed with Leksand IF on Aug. 27. Eddie The Eagle, still wearing No. 20 in the advertising-riddled sweater of the Leksand Stars, picked up a 'W' in his Swedish debut, a 4-1 win over Sundsvail. He is sharing the job, by the way, with former UNH standout Mike Ayers, who opted for Europe after threee years of minor-league duty in the Blackhawks system.

Mark Spector on the NHL Keenan to provide spark Iron Mike with light a fire under Flames, revive legacy in process

Now, where does Eddie go after his season of being a ''malvakter'' in Sweden? No one knows, and that includes Belfour. Provided he remains healthy, able to avoid what has been a chronic back problem for years, he could come back to the NHL. But he is 42 years old, and though still proficient (27-17-10 last year with the Panthers), he likely won't be offered anything other than short money and short term here in the U.S. or Canada.

Many North Americans head to Europe because they make decent money, often tax free, and they are lavished with top living arrangement and cars. It's far more likely that Belfour remains over there and enjoys the good life for 2-3 years before calling it quits