A day after being seen on the ice for the first time since it was announced that he had off-season back surgery, Ilya Sorokin joined his teammates for the first time at NY Islanders training camp.
It was another step in the right direction as we're one week away from the Islanders first game of the season when they'll host the Utah Hockey Club for the first time.
Ilya Sorokin skates with his teammates
"I feel really good," Sorokin said after his first practice with the team. "We made great job for the last two months so I feel good mental and physical."
Sorokin was joined on the ice by Semyon Varlamov and Marcus Hogberg, as it's unclear whether he'll be ready for opening night.
"I do everything to be ready and {the] head coach say who play opening night, it's his business," Sorokin said. "My business is to do all things my body and my head ready."
Sorokin, 29, has never suffered a serious injury in his career dating back to his career in Russia. He noted that this was the first time he's had surgery and is feeling strong in his recovery.
Roy is excited as anyone to have Sorokin back with the team but isn't giving anything away as to when we may see him in game action.
"We're just going to go day by day," said Roy. "Between you and I, I can't say more than that because we don't know what tomorrow will be - so day by day, we'll see how he is, and we're going to give him his time.
The Islanders play their final preseason game tomorrow against the NY Rangers, but it's unlikely we'll see Sorokin thrown into a game situation so quick.