Anders Lee said he had butterflies in his stomach, Derick Brassard called it the hardest training camp practice of his career and Brock Nelson described how anxious the locker room felt prior to taking the ice.
Even for seasoned veterans, the first day of training camp is a shock to the system - Cal Clutterbuck's words - as players endure the gruesome welcome back and share a palpable relief upon completion.
Trotz Tests Isles on Tough First Day of Training Camp
Islanders put through physical test on the first day of training camp, plus injury updates