By the time this is published, hockey will already be back on Long Island.
The Islanders opened rookie camp Friday morning, marking the first checkpoint in a demanding seven-month, 84-game season that will fully ramp up when the veterans report next week.
While rookie camp is often treated as a quiet early-September event, the Islanders no longer have a prospect system so depleted that it can be overlooked. This week carries real importance, and Sunday’s and Tuesday’s scrimmages against New Jersey’s prospects should offer valuable insight into how the organization’s young players are progressing.
Here’s what I’ll be focused on during rookie camp: