Islanders Open 2022-23 Season With Rookie Camp

The New York Islanders kicked off the on-ice portion of rookie camp on Thursday morning,
with 25 players skating on the first day
.
2022 draft picks Isaiah George, Matthew Maggio and Daylan Kuefler were joined by organizational veterans like Grant Hutton and Robin Salo, who both played NHL games last season.

For some of the prospects drafted during the COVID-19 era, like William Dufour, who is coming off a World Junior Championship gold medal with Team Canada and a Memorial Cup win, this was their first NHL camp experience.
"It's nice to talk to the boys," Dufour said. "I've been practicing with some of the guys, but there are some new faces who I've only seen on Instagram. New faces, new friends, new family."

Ruslan Iskhakov last attended an Islanders development camp in the summer of 2019, but after two years competing overseas in Finland's Liiga and Germany's DEL, he said he felt more confident and mature coming in this year. Iskhakov said meeting his new teammates and practicing with the team is much easier now that he's a stronger English speaker.
Salo is one of the veterans at rookie camp, having played 21 NHL games in his debut season with the Islanders last year, but the 2017 second-round pick said he doesn't think about it that way.
"I've been here for one year," Salo said. "But yeah, of course, if somebody asks a question or anything, I'll try to guide him, just try to be a good teammate."
Salo is working to build off a rookie season that saw him play in Bridgeport's first playoff series win since 2003.

Joining the players on the ice were former

and Dennis Seidenberg, who worked with the forward and defensive groups during on-ice sessions.
"It's great to have those guys here helping us," Salo said. "They are unbelievable players and great guys. It's good to get some small pointers from them, from a player's perspective."
Stay tuned to NewYorkIslanders.com and the team's social media accounts for the latest coverage from rookie camp.