Scott Jackson was headed out to eat with his Norfolk Admirals teammates after what he thought was his final game of the season before he was pulled aside and given some great news. He was going to the NHL. Jackson had a 3 a.m. flight to Florida booked, made a few phones calls and then went to meet his Lightning teammates. It was a reward for a solid AHL season and gave Jackson a taste of the place he wants to make home.

There were times last season that defenseman Grant Lewis felt nearly invisible playing for Chicago and Hershey. "It was definitely a weird year for me," he said. "It was kind of an awkward season in general." He should have a much more noticeable presence in 2010-11. That was Nashville's plan, at least, when it acquired the 25-year-old from Atlanta last week in exchange for forward Ian McKenzie.

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