1) We are about halfway, the leaders have about a point per game, I'll say just under 100.
2) Judging by geography, NBC's bias, and the rotating locations, I'll say Detroit.
3) 82
4) Escrow money. The players want their money back in their hands, the owners will give it to them, but it'll cost a reduction of revenue% going towards the salary cap.
5) Well they wont put the redline back in to reduce the speed of the game, so how about installing Nascar restrictor plates on all players to slow them down? In all seriousness I would recommend the 3 point game, the NHL loves what the shootout has done, fine great, but if they can implement at better cap system (see #4) that keeps the salary cap from ballooning, then parity should be somewhat fine again, and make the owners agree that the 3 point system is fine.
6) I'm thinking the Blue Jackets will finish last (whether they win the lottery is another question), but if you look at their salary, they have the 12th highest payroll in the league with little under $3mil in space. You cannot have that kind of a result when you are paying your team that kind of money. Add to the fact that this team has been awful since they came into the league, and the fact that outside of Rick Nash they have bombed on draft day, I see the Blue Jackets making a trade involving their #1 pick. Who gets the pick? No idea, but the Jackets need some solid players, and Nail Yakupov will garner a lot of interest.
7) Zach Parise - He will not be resigned by the Devils, he wants out and he will garner the largest contract this offseason, expect the bidding to start at $6.5mil per season.
8) If things hold up the way they are now (roughly speaking), call me a homer, but I can see the Jets acquiring Selanne from the Ducks, all that matters is the asking price. Aside from my homer pick, I'll say Ales Hemsky in Edmonton will be traded away, I don't think anyone knows for certain if he fits in Edmonton's long term rebuild (and keep them under the cap in 3 years when all the youth need new contracts).