(Ikeastan photo) Much to the delight of Bruins fans, Brad Marchand has a new two-year contract with the Black and Gold.

Good afternoon everyone. Here are the latest tidbits from The Hub of Hockey and the National Hockey League as seen on the Internets.

Marchand re-signs and other Hub news

Earlier this morning, CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty was the first to report that a deal between RFA Brad Marchand and the Bruins was likely going to be done today (via Haggs’ Twitter account @HackswithHaggs). To no one’s surprise, the deal was finalized. Read all about the deal from Bruins’ Daily’s own Anthony Travalgia as well as the take from the Days of Y’orr crew.

In the second of two rookie games in last night, the Islanders rebounded to a 7-2 victory and gained a split in the two games with the Bruins. Here’s the recap from the Bruins’ official website and a feature from my former Inside Hockey colleague, Brad Kurtzberg,on the promising rookies in Long Island.

Former Canadiens forward Benoit Pouliot is looking to make a good impression with the Black and Gold says Fluto Shinzawa of The Boston Globe

New England Hockey Journal’s Jesse Connolly has a post on The Black and Gold blog with goalie Tim Thomas and how the Vezina Winner and Stanley Cup MVP is glad that the 2011-12 season is nearly underway.

Tavares re-signs and more league news

The Islanders have called a press conference tomorrow at 1 p.m. to announce the signing of John Tavares, the top overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, to a reported six-year, $33 million contract (Brian Compton, NHL.com)

TSN’s Michael Landsberg, the host of the popular talk show Off the Record up in Canada, writes an emotional tribute about enforcer Wade Belak, who tragically passed away this past summer.

Former Merrimack College standout Stephane Da Costa is leaving a good impression with the Ottawa Senators in rookie camp in hopes of making the big club for the 2011-12 season. James Mirtle from The Globe and Mail talks about the journey the Paris, France, native took getting to Ottawa.

Finally, with NHL 12 hitting shelves yesterday, it would only be appropriate to link to a review of EA Sports’ latest hockey title. The popular sports gaming site Operation Sports has a detailed review from this year’s version.