This Week in THN: Sept. 7

First overall pick John Tavares will provide New York Islanders fans with excitement.

In the Sept. 7 edition of The Hockey News:

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• In our cover story, Adam Proteau writes why each team has a reason to be excited for the 2009-10 NHL season.

• Inside the NHL tells the story of Ryan Kraft, who crashed Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup party.

• The Olympic tracker focuses on Team USA and the young faces who will be counted on.

• In Overtime, Eric Duhatschek explains how Anaheim GM Bob Murray is keeping the Anaheim Ducks competitive, despite shedding salary.

• Editor in chief Jason Kay explains why the Chicago Blackhawks have an awful lot of work to do to live up to their lofty expectations.

• Ken Campbell’s In the Slot discusses a group of teenagers who were promised a European tournament, before their hopes were dashed.

• Our 2009 Equipment Buyer’s Guide.

• In Proteau Type, Adam Proteau proposes a trade of Miikka Kiprusoff for Evgeni Nabokov.

• On The Opinion Page, Ryan Kennedy explores the NHL-KHL divide and why the end is nowhere in sight.

• Our NHL team reports give you an update on what players have been doing with their summer vacations.

• Prospects unlimited examines Mike Funk of the Manitoba Moose, coach Greg Gilbert of the Adirondack Phantoms, and Eric Gelinas, a second round pick of the New Jersey Devils in this year’s NHL draft.

• In Crowd Shots, the best Letters to the Editor are featured and Adam Proteau answers readers’ questions in Ask Adam.

• The best and worst of hockey in plus/minus

• Last Minute of Play features Charlie Teljeur’s hockeysockpuppettheatre cartoon, Larry Humber’s hockey crossword puzzle and Ryan Kennedy’s Jersey Hound, featuring the WHA Quebec Nordiques

Pick up a copy at your local newsstand, buy it digitally, or subscribe at thehockeynews.com today!