Awesome Derek Stephan goal.

Check out these uniforms, even the goalies in the Finnish league have advertising on their goalie pads as well as the players butts. I am hoping that the NHL doesn't ever go this far with their advertising. Also, playing on KalPa Kuopio with Derek Stephan is former Wisconsin Badgers teammate Craig Smith.

New York Rangers sign Wisconsin forward Derek Stepan

Yikes that didn't take long.

The Post has learned that Derek Stepan, the Rangers' second-round (51st overall) selection in the 2008 Entry Draft, has agreed to terms on a contract that, per the collective bargaining agreement, cannot be registered with the NHL until July 1. It will be a three-year Entry Level deal expected to be close to the $875,000 base salary cap.

Stepan, who will turn 20 a week from Friday, was captain of the Team USA World Junior Championship gold-medal winners this January. Used in a defensive and checking role through much of his college career, Stepan was an offensive force in the tournament for the United States, recording 14 points (4-10) in seven games. He had 54 points (12-42) as a sophomore for the Badgers, who lost the NCAA final to Boston College.

Stepan would have to be regarded as an extreme long shot to make the Rangers out of training camp. If he does not make the club, he's more likely to be assigned to the junior WHL Calgary Hitmen rather than the team's AHL Hartford affiliate. [New York Post]