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Each Friday throughout the season, I'll provide you with my predictions on whose stock is on the rise and whose is failing miserably like an American bank. It's a neat little segment entitled Buys and Sells. There are a few teams/players/issues to buy and a few to sell.

I hope everyone out there had a great holiday, whichever one you choose to celebrate. If it was Christmas, I hope you don't have too bad of an egg nog hangover this morning! Today in Buys and Sells we're going to take a look at which NHL teams are contending and which are pretending. We're nearing the midpoint of the season and the end of the year, so I think it's a great time to take a look at the first half surprises and decide who will be sticking around come playoff time and who will be heading home early. As you've probably surmised from the picture to the right, Jon Toews and the Hawks are the first topic of discussion today... Right after the jump. As always disagreements and your own picks are welcome in the comments.

Ed Belfour, who managed to hold down the Florida Panthers #1 goaltending job at the age of 42, thinks he deserves a nice pay hike.

Florida Panthers goalie Ed Belfour said Friday that he wants more money. He would like to sign another one-year contract with the Panthers, but if it doesn't work out, Belfour, 42, is confident he can be a starter somewhere else in the NHL.

"I'm definitely a No 1 goalie," Belfour said. "I'm motivated to come back and be the No. 1 guy. I think my health is there."

Belfour believes he is worth considerably more now that he has proved his durability. He earned a base salary of $750,000 last season as part of an incentive-laden deal.

"My base was low because I had back surgery," Belfour said. "Throughout my career, my base was a lot higher. . . . I proved that I was durable and I'm not going to play for that kind of money this year, that's for sure."

Ahh, talk about living in the past. Of course he was worth more!! Eddie, you USED to be young, spry, and a great goaltending.

Now? Not so much ...

Yes, Belfour did better than Bald Alex Auld, putting up a 90.2SV% compared to Auld's cringe-inducing 88.8% mark. Yes, Belfour was a bargain at $750,000 for a 50+ game goaltender, but how does he think he'll get more elsewhere?

Fact: Belfour's SV% was still 31st among qualified goaltenders. Given that there are 30 NHL teams, Belfour is not going to be an improvement in many other places.

Fact: Belfour is 42, has a creaky back, and isn't getting any younger, more agile, or healthier.

Fact: Belfour is a belligerent drunk who parties way too often and gets himself in trouble with the police. Not many teams want to put up with the off-ice problems Eddie is bound to have.

If the Panthers aren't willing to give him a raise, Belfour will be very fortunate to get $750,000 and a position from any other NHL club. Whatever Belfour thinks of his self-worth, he'd be smart not to alienate himself from the Panthers, who might be the only club willing to give him a decent contract.

At least he didn't demand ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!! Although, that would have been much more interesting ...