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But which of these teams will maintain their division leads in time for the playoffs? Let's breakdown which teams are here to stay and play and which teams whose better times lie in the future. We'll start in the East and make our way down the standings towards the West.

Contender: Pittsburgh

One player spells the initial success the Penguins have had so far this season and it's none other than Super Mario himself, seemingly almost resurrected from the dead into his old early-'90s shape where he dominated the NHL and led the Pens to two Stanleys. Lemieux leads the NHL with 17 assists and has single-handedly lifted the skill of each of the players on his line. But sadly, he's no superman (as super as he is) and even if he is, age is his kryptonite and consequently, 70 games is wishful thinking for him.

Even with Martin Straka back, the team will find it's success to be dependent upon two things: 1) the longevity of Lemieux and; 2) the continuing maturity of G Johan Hedberg. Despite the team's insanely-high 44 goals scored so far this season, which is tops in the NHL, the team has also let in 33 goals, a bit high. The quicker Hedberg matures, the less Super Mario has to be and the greater chance he will be playing past the first week in April.

Pretender: Tampa Bay

The one strength the Lightning knew they had last season isn't required to put up CuJo-like poundings this season with the Tampa offense stepping up, scoring 4.2 goals a game and the defense slicing 6 shots less a game (to 25) from last season. G Nikolai Khabibulin has adjusted well to seeing less shots and more goals for his team and this will pay off in the longterm where he'll become more rested and alert for each game.

Although they have goaltending down pat, their offense and defense is dominated by a posse of young talent led by none other than veteran Dave Andreychuk. This team should sneak into the playoffs thanks to an easy division, but the lack of veteran leadership will prevent them from surprising anyone in the playoffs.

Pretender: Minnesota

What? Minnesota Wild leading a division? In the NHL? Believe it ... at least for this week. Led by Marian Gaborik's week from heaven, Manny Fernandez's incredibly low GAA, and a bunch of guys excited to play, the Wild have driven themselves up the standings. But, really, can this last? Although the team has limited the opposition to 26 goals in 12 games, the defense lacks solid, proven players. That will ultimately kill a team in the longrun.

As for Fernandez and his chances on becoming the next Jose Theodore? Although he's still sharing his job with journeyman Dwayne Roloson and he's coming off a dismal season, he's impressed in the past, although time has usually caught up with him. Goaltenders are people and they do mature (like Theodore showed last season), so we will see how the Manny Fernandez story turns out.

Contender: Los Angeles

One of those teams that always had a few good players, but never the chemistry to mesh itself into a winner, this season could be a change for the Kings. The leadership of C Jason Allison and the maturity of a few rising players such as C Eric Belanger and F Mikko Eloranta were the missing links from last season. But sitting atop of the Pacific in first place, they find themselves now without Allison until January, thanks to a torn ligament near his right patella.

Although the goaltending has held up these first 11 games, the scoring will surely drop and inconsistent play will resume its normal way from last season. If the Kings find themselves in the hunt in January, Allison, a quick impact player, will surely provide the extra boost to push them into the playoffs. This team doesn't strike me as any different from last year's -- they're merely just waiting for San Jose and Dallas to wake up.

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