Matt Martin and the Islanders managed to get just under the wire with a four-year contract, as announced only a few minutes ago. This means Martin, currently an RFA, will be signed until he’s 27 years old. This is great news for the Isles, as Martin is a fan favorite and a great player in his role on the team.

Now…

As you are probably well aware, in just about 20 minutes the NHL, barring some miracle, will head into another work stoppage. We all know the circumstances around this issue, and none of us know for sure when it will be resolved. There is, however, one thing to consider, and that’s the coverage on this blog. Got some news for ya, and you can take it well or hate me for it — it’s completely up to you.

While the Islanders and the NHL will be on break, Arbour Day will not be. We’ll be set to cover the Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ season starting in October, as well as some updates on how prospects are doing in juniors and European leagues. We’ll also have some new features up on the site, centered around hockey history and other fun stuff.

So please, stay tuned, and I hope you enjoy.