In the news today, Noah Dobson has signed his entry-level contract with the New
 York Islanders, NBC has released their broadcasting schedule for the 2018-19
season, Zach Aston-Reese is healthy and looking to make a solid impact at the
NHL level and the Ottawa Senators have officially announced the signing of
Brady Tkachuk.Dobsons Signs ELC With Islanders

The New York Islanders have signed one of their two 2018 first-round draft
picks, Noah Dobson to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced
Monday. Dobson, the Islanders second first-round pick at 12th overall behind
Oliver Wahlstrom at 11th overall, was one of the top prospects coming out of
his draft class. After a breakout season with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the
QMJHL, Dobson made a name for himself as a solid two-way defender who excels on
 the offensive side of the puck.Noah Dobson, New York Islanders, 2018 NHL
Draft, Dallas, TX, June 22, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The Islanders are a team in transition right now with captain John Tavares
electing to sign a long-term deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent,
 leaving them without the franchise';s best player since Tavares entered the
league in 2009. Fortunately, the Islanders still have some solid pieces in
place and some high-upside prospects on the horizon. Dobson represents one such
 prospect with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier already making an impact
in the NHL after being drafted in 2015.Related: Tavares Signs With Maple
LeafsNBC Released NHL Schedule

NBC has released their broadcasting schedule for the 2018-19 NHL regular
season. The schedule emphasizes a few specificities in what NBC was looking for
 with their broadcast this season, including the emphasis on doubleheaders,
"star power," earlier start times and diverse schedules.

"With the impressive growth of fan interest in non-traditional NHL markets
combined with the emergence of a number of rising stars, we felt the time was
right to broaden our Wednesday night schedule and evolve the brand," said Sam
Flood, Executive Producer and President, Production, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
"Fans will still see plenty of games between traditional powers, but our new
approach to Wednesday nights - including a record number of doubleheaders -
allows us to show more rising stars and more Western Conference and Canadian
teams than ever before."

Your 2018-19 NHL on NBC TV schedule https://t.co/Xn3zNlPxzc

- NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 13, 2018

The diverse schedule does showcase many of the NHL';s finest teams in a broader
 way, but there is also a glaring emphasis on the Chicago Blackhawks,
Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers,
Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators, all of whom will
be seen on NBC between 11 times (Wild) and 19 times (Blackhawks) with the
Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators getting zero games on NBC this season.

Additionally, the Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, Dallas
Stars, Carolina Hurricanes and Arizona Coyotes will get one broadcast on NBC.

The full schedule can be round here.Aston-Reese Healthy & Looking for Full-Time
 Role

Pittsburgh Penguins'; forward Zach Aston-Reese is healthy and looking to earn a
 full-time role in the NHL with the team next season. Reese suffered a broken
jaw and concussion as a result of a hit from Washington Capitals'; forward Tom
Wilson during a postseason game last season but is finally recovered and ready
to make an impact.

"There';s a little bit more confidence," Reese told NHL';s Adam Kimelman. "I
don';t want to use the word comfort because there';s never any comfort. To an
extent you know the guys a little bit more, you know what to expect a little
bit more, you know how hard it';s going to be going in, so you know how to
prepare for it."

In his first season in the NHL, Reese would play in 16 games, scoring four
goals and six points in that time before adding another one assist in nine
postseason contests.Pittsburgh Penguins center Zach Aston-Reese (46) skates
with the puck as Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) chases in
second period in game one of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
 (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

The 24-year-old had a solid season going in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before
getting an opportunity in the NHL, finishing his AHL season with nine goals and
 29 points in 41 games. Despite his success with the Penguins'; AHL affiliate,
there';s no doubt that Aston-Reese is looking for more.

"[Sullivan and Rutherford] talked about how coming into camp I need to show
that I belong," he said. "I';ve had a good summer. I';ve been happy with my
summer, had time to reset and heal from my injury. I';ve been at it for a while
 here and I';m feeling strong."Senators Announce Tkachuk Signing

It was reported a few days prior to the official release from the team but the
Ottawa Senators have finally announced that they have come to terms on an
entry-level contract with 2018 first-round pick Brady Tkachuk.Brady Tkachuk,
Ottawa Senators, 2018 NHL Draft, Dallas, TX, June 22, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

By signing his contract, Tkachuk effectively ended his eligibility in the NCAA
and will compete for a spot on the Senators NHL roster in training camp. If the
 Senators decide that Tkachuk can benefit from developing more outside of the
NHL, they can elect to send him to the OHL, where the London Knights hold his
CHL rights, and let him play the season there.

The Senators were very happy to select Tkachuk so early in the draft and while
he could have benefited from spending more time in the NCAA with some better
competition surrounding him, the team getting him locked up to a contract now
and not risking him signing elsewhere after his collegiate career is over is a
big plus for them. There';s also a distinct possibility that he impresses and
makes the NHL roster right away, rendering the NCAA and OHL point moot.

The post NHL News & Notes: Dobson, NBC, Aston-Reese & Tkachuk appeared first on
 The Hockey Writers.

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