NY Islanders Daily Dose: Rookie Camp Opens; A Door Opens for Josh Bailey

ON THE FLY

📰 NEWS: The Islanders opened up their rookie camp with a 20-player roster made up of 17 forward/defensemen and three goaltenders. The group was headlined by William Dufour, OHL Player of the Year Matthew Maggio, and AHL All-Star Ruslan Iskhakov. Also with the forward group was Simon Holmstrom, who made his NHL debut last season and played in 50 games last season. Holmstrom remains on his rookie contract.

On the blueline, Isaiah George, a day after inking a three-year ELC, was on the ice, as was 2022 second-round pick Calle Odelius. NCAA signings Aidan Fulp and Travis Mitchell are part of that group as well. Plus, goaltender Tristan Lennox is in camp and will get a chance in the Bridgeport rotation this year

Want to feel old or just older?

Of the 20 participants, only five were born in the 20th century!

MAGGIO EYEING A SPOT

2023 5th round pick Matthew Maggio has reason to be confident.

After all, he was named the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Most Outstanding Player last season after scoring 54 goals and registering 111 points in 66 games, which led the OHL. "I'm gonna try to put myself in a place to make an impression where I want them to make a tough choice.”

Despite that success in juniors and holding his own in three AHL games in Bridgeport, no one is expecting the 20-year-old to push for a spot on the Islanders roster - except himself.

"There's a lot of great players, and it's a great team that you want to make. I'd be lying to you guys if I said I don't have my eyes on a roster spot, Maggio said after the first day of rookie camp on Thursday. " Even if that doesn't happen, that's going to be ok, but I think I'm gonna be here every day, trying to do as much as I can as a player to push for a spot here."