The Tampa Bay Lighting has signed a three year contract amounting to $2.625 million to rope in the No 1 pick in the NHL draft, Steven Stamkos, into their team. Stamkos is determined to make the most of this opportunity and wants to make it big this forthcoming NHL season. He said that he will be working with his new teammates at the practice camp and will be able to work on developing an excellent rapport with the players of the Lightning team. He feels that he is ready for the big challenge of NHL and will be able to prove his detractors wrong. There is no doubt that there will be huge rush for tickets by the Lightning fans to the upcoming season.

Pierre Marc Bouchard, the right wing of the Minnesota Wild, has re-signed a five year deal with his team and his recent success with the team would be one of the reasons for the management of the Wild to sign a contract for over $20 million. He entered the Minnesota Wild team at the tender age of 18 years in 2002, but all his efforts started to bear fruits for him in the 2006-07 season where he scored 14 goals and had 50 assists. Bouchard hopes to make the most of the opportunity that has been presented to him in the upcoming NHL season and is looking forward to taking his team to greater heights of glory. The Wild fans will be surely hitting the ticket counters to purchase their tickets once the sales begin.

The Sharks signed D Matthew Kinch to a one-year contract on Thursday. Terms of the deal are undisclosed as yet. Kinch spent the 2007-08 season with Binghamton (AHL). In 73 games played, he tied for second among team defensemen with 25 points and accumulated 73 penalty minutes. His presence should be a definite bonus to the Sharks’ ticket sales

Shawn Horcoff reportedly signed a $33M, six year extension contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Horcoff had a good last season before he endured a season ending shoulder surgery. He was involved with 21 goals and 29 assists in 53 games. This might help the Oilers keep Horcoff, a premier National Hockey League player, in their uniform in the long run. This will be good news for Edmonton since Horcoff has been an important part of the club, being part of their race for the Stanley Cup in 2006. He will also raise the ticket sales for the Oilers this season.

The Boston Bruins released their new ticket plan Monday, it involves hockey and eating.  The plan is called “Hungry for Hockey,” in which it gives tickets for all Boston Bruins home games as well as all you can eat on several items.  These include Hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, popcorn and soft drinks.  The plan goes for a little less than $1,700 and the seats are located in the 327-328 sections.  The Bruins front office feels as though the plan will benefit fans of all kinds because it allows family and friends to enjoy the games and food for an affordable price.  The “Hungry for Hockey” ticket plan also comes with the perks of regular season ticket holders including discounts and unique opportunities for special events.  While the 2008-2009 Boston Bruins schedule has yet to be released, there is quite the stir amongst Bruins fans with the newest addition to the ticket plans.

The 34 year old Anaheim Ducks Most Valuable Player last season, Scott Niedermayer, has decided to put on holds his retirement plans for some more time and has decided to join his teammates for the NHL battle next season. Niedermayer has informed the Ducks general manager Brian Burke about his decision and has let him know that he will be playing for the Ducks in the 2008-09 seasons. Scott said that he was looking forward to the upcoming season and is determined to make it a successful one for himself as well as his team. The Ducks fans are rushing on to buy tickets for the new season.

Tuomo Ruutu, the forward winger, who played partly for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2007 season, has signed a one year contract with the team worth $2.25 million last Tuesday. Ruutu scored 10 goals and had 22 assists in his last NHL season for Hurricanes and Chicago. Carolina Hurricanes coach and managing staff were really impressed with his hockey skills and were determined to take him in their squad. The inclusion of Ruutu will augur well for the Hurricanes in the coming season and the Canes fans will be booking their tickets well in advance to all their home games.  

The Tampa Bay Lightning has made their first selection in the first round of NHL Draft last Friday when they picked up center player Steven Stamkos as their numero uno pick. The Lightning general manager Jay Feaster appreciated the efforts of the new ownership chairperson, Oren Koules, in picking up 18 year old Stamkos into the Lightning squad. Stamkos is also very happy to be representing Tampa Bay in the NHL season ahead and is elated to be among the likes of star players like Vincent Lecavalier. The new hockey season is going to a great sporting extravaganza and there is no doubt that fans will buying tickets to watch their favorite teams perform.

The popular defenseman Ryan Suter has signed a four year contract with the Nashville Predators for an astronomical fee of $14 million. The contract was signed last Monday and this young player is thrilled to be playing for the Predators in the upcoming seasons. Suter hopes to perform at his best for the team and he scored 31 points and had 24 assists in his last season with the Nashville’s NHL team. Ryan Suter is one among the many young players who have been signed by Predators in a bid to keep their team young. Predators’ fans are rushing to get tickets to their games to see these young guns perform.

Todd McLellan is all set to take up the reins of the head coach of San Jose Sharks following his triumphant coaching stint with the Detroit Red Wings that enabled the team to lift NHL’s Stanley Cup. The Sharks general manager Doug Wilson expected the team to perform at its best under the watchful eyes of the newly appointed head coach. Wilson expects that the new coach will be able to bring in a set pattern among his hockey players and make them understand their goals and expectations of the top brass from them. The Sharks fans are also hoping for a great season ahead and are now on the internet in pursuit of buying tickets for the upcoming NHL season.