"I think that's a moment that everybody who plays hockey is waiting for," Joseph told ArizonaCoyotes.com. "It represents all of the effort I put into my work, and a thank you to my family and all of my teammates and coaches who helped me through the process."
Arizona drafted Joseph 23rd overall in 2017, and he got a long look at training camp before returning to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The lanky defenseman ranks second on the Islanders with 18 assists in 23 games, and third with 21 points.
"Going to the draft and to my first (NHL) camp gave me a lot of confidence in myself," Joseph said. "Just seeing how the pros prepare there, I've tried to bring that with me to my game in junior."
Charlottetown is a defense-first team that likes playing low-scoring games. The Islanders have won 17 of their first 28 games, and Joseph, the team captain, is a key cog.
"P.O. is a guy our staff was extremely passionate about, so any time you receive a player you're passionate about, it's a good day," Coyotes General Manager John Chayka said immediately after the draft. "He's a guy who has unlimited upside. We think the sky's the limit for him, and his ceiling is as high as anybody. That's what we were looking for at that pick ... He's aggressive. He competes hard. I think he's extremely, extremely smart. He's got a good skill set. I think once he puts on a little size and some weight, that's going to take his game to the next level."
Joseph is 6-foot-2, 163 pounds. Bulking up is his top priority as he attempts to make his way to the NHL.
"It's a really long process to reach the NHL," Joseph said. "Sometimes it can go fast and sometimes it can go slow, but I'm not too worried about the time it takes me. For me, it's more about when my body will be ready. Having said that I want to get ready and get there as soon as possible. If that's next year, then it's next year. If it's in three years, then it's in three years. I think I'll just follow the process of life."
