NHL

The Tampa Bay Lightning has signed forward Nikita Kucherov to a three year entry level contract.

The right winger was drafted in the 2012 CHL Import Draft by the Quebec Remparts. He is recovering from shoulder surgery and has yet to play a game with Quebec. The Lightning drafted the Russian in the second round (58th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Kucherov had one goal and five points in 18 games with CSKA Moscow of the KHL last season. He led the 2011 U-18 World Championships in scoring, netting 11 goals and 21 points in just seven games.

Bolt Prospects speaks highly of Kucherev:

“One of the purest finishers in the 2011 draft class. Had an unbelievable...

Despite talks of another NHL season getting wiped out entirely, many players from the New York Islanders have returned to the Island to prepare for training camp. This week, Eric Boulton, Matt Carkner, Michael Grabner, Kirill Kabanov, Andrew MacDonald, Brock Nelson, Nino Niederreiter, Frans Nielsen, Marty Reasoner and Johan Sundstrom took part in some informal skates at Islanders Ice Works in Syosset. (Photo Credit: Islanders Hockey Blog/Flickr).

These players have not only been skating, but they have been active off the ice as well. Just yesterday Michael Grabner signed 150 autographs for the first group of fans to attend the grand opening of the Cantiague Park Pro Shop.

The past few weeks have been important for guys like Boulton and Carkner, who are just meeting some of their Islanders teammates for the first time after signing contracts with the organization on the first day of Free Agency.

The New York Islanders will finally have a better picture of what their defense will look like in 2013 as Lubomir Visnovsky's arbitration hearing is set to take place in just three days on September 4th. (Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

As many of you know, Visnovsky filed a grievance with the NHLPA stating that the trade from the Anaheim Ducks to the Isles voided his No-Trade Clause and that the Ducks never approached him about the deal when they should have. However, the Ducks state that his NTC was used when the Edmonton Oilers dealt him to the Ducks in 2010.

If Visnovsky wins the decision, he remains part of the Ducks organization. If he loses, the trade stands and he is a member of the New York Islanders.

Kyle Okposo went into the 2012 season looking to rebound after an injured 2011 year that only saw him play 38 games. In those games, Okposo only posted 20 points, a far cry from the 52 he scored in his sophomore season. (Photo Credit: bridgetds/Flickr)

It was also likely less than what he, his team and fans were hoping to see him contribute after having such a great year in 2010.

Last year started off very similarly to 2011 - as if he was still injured and watching from the press box. He only scored three points in the first 15 games of the year and was eventually a healthy scratch for three straight games.

But Okposo would redeem himself, having heard the message from Coach Capuano loud and clear.