There are far more questions than answers with this team.

There is lingering disappointment of not making the playoffs after a five-year run. Pointing to departed goalie Dominik Hasek and his Stanley Cup champion Red Wings as the reason why is taking the easy way out. Martin Biron is no slouch as a replacement and Mika Noronen is a bona fide talent, but this is a franchise steeped in a transition phase. It's never a good sign when your owner -- in this case John Rigas -- is led away in handcuffs for looting the parent company.

"It was disturbing, it was startling," said coach Lindy Ruff, referring to the television footage of Rigas being led away in handcuffs, along with two of his sons, for allegedly bilking Adelphia out of $3.1 billion. The team, led by general manager Darcy Regier, will start the year business as usual but as those in Buffalo have seen, it's anything but.