Getting to know NY Islanders Training Camp Invitee: Joey Larson

When the New York Islanders take the ice for training camp this September, one of the new faces to watch will be forward Joey Larson. The 24-year-old Michigan State product signed a one-year entry-level contract with the club earlier this summer, officially beginning his professional career with a chance to make an impression on Long Island. He was the state of Michigan's “Mr. Hockey” winner as the top player in the state in 2019 while playing for his hometown Hartland High School.

He decided to forego his senior season to sign with the Isles. Larson arrives after a productive three-year run with the Spartans, where he built a reputation as a steady, two-way winger who could chip in offensively. He recorded 10 goals and 24 points in 37 games during his junior season, helping Michigan State earn the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. Over 111 career games at the collegiate level, Larson compiled 39 goals and 83 points, while often skating in a second-line role. Coaches praised his reliability and ability to contribute in all situations, making him one of the team’s most consistent players throughout his NCAA career.

At 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, Larson has the physical build to adjust to the pro game. While scouting reports on him have been limited, his combination of size, maturity, and steady offensive production make him an intriguing late-blooming prospect. Unlike many of his younger peers entering the Islanders’ system, Larson joins the organization with added years of experience and the poise that comes from competing against older, stronger players at the college level.

This fall’s training camp will provide Larson with his first opportunity to measure himself against NHL competition. Expectations may be modest at the start, but the chance to show that he belongs within the Islanders’ system is significant. Whether he opens the season in Bridgeport or pushes for a surprise role with the big club, Larson’s journey is just beginning and Islanders fans will get their first real look at him this September.