Following day one of New York Islanders training camp, Stefen Rosner caught up with prospects Matthew Maggio and William Dufour to get their thoughts on their performance and what it was like skating with the NHLers.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- After five days of rookie camp, New York Islanders prospects William Dufour and Matthew Maggio were revved up to skate with the NHLers at their second training camp with the organization. 

"Anytime you're on with the NHL guys, the pace is elevated. Everything's elevated," Maggio told The Hockey News. "I mean, there's quick plays. You want to be really careful with your puck decisions. Yeah, so it was a good skate."

Dufour echoed Maggio's sentiments.

"I mean, all the small details [are so important]," Dufour Told THN. "Like I talked with Lane after practice [about] some stick things on 1-on-1s, 2-on-2s. Like, don't be too aggressive. Play smart. Just small details like that. That kind of just out my game could be better. So I think that's the biggest thing I learned today."

The importance is about getting better, and Islanders head coach Lane Lambert was doing what he could to offer pointers.

"You can see him go up to Dufour and some of the younger guys. They really just want to hone in on the details," Maggio said. "I mean, that's what it takes to play at the NHL level. It's just being so detail-oriented and so good defensively, so I think through practice, you can see Lane coming up to any one of us and really just correcting us.

"There's still a learning curve that younger guys have in the league, so I think he just throughout practice did a great job [of helping]."

While line combinations will change, Maggio, 20, skated alongside NHL staples Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee on day 1. 

"Obviously, line rushes when you're with Pageau and Lee, I mean, it's not too hard to just blend in there," Maggio said. "So, I was just trying to make simple plays, and I know that they have unbelievable IQ and they're gonna find me, and so it's just trying to get open, get to good spots and make plays with them."

Dufour, 21, skated alongside NHLer Pierre Engvall and Bridgeport teammates Kyle MacLean (Power play coach John MacLean's son). 

"It's just nice to be here. I think I did pretty good today. So I'm happy with my performance," Dufour said.

After debuting at Islanders camp a season ago, both Maggio and Dufour had strong 2022-23 seasons. 

Maggio won OHL Player of the Year, scoring 54 goals with 57 assists in 66 games in his third season with Windsor, donning the "C", as well. 

Dufour scored 21 goals with 27 assists in 69 games for the Bridgeport Islanders, his first pro season. 

Although both can light the lamp often, they are not the same player, so they don't have the same weaknesses. 

Both worked hard this offseason, as Maggio focused on making quicker plays while Dufour had to improve his skating, particularly his initial stride. 

That hard work paid off, as both impressed Lambert on the first day of training camp. 

"I like his offensive abilities and his smarts," Lambert said on Maggio's play. "I like his speed. I think he really sees the game well. I'm impressed with him so far."

On top of the skill Maggio brings, his leadership and maturity has been a standout. And that's something that Islanders Matt Martin conveyed repeatedly when we spoke with him after their skate.

"He's a Windsor kid. I know his family pretty well, and his dad used to be my trainer back in the day, so he's a good kid," Martin told THN. "He works hard. I know his family. They all work hard, and obviously, he's got some talent as well. He put up some good numbers in Junior last year.

"So, he's somebody that is certainly trying to make his splash not only in the future, but I think right now. He's got the mindset that he wants to push and try to make the team, which everyone does, but he's got a great attitude."

For Dufour, skating was, potentially, the final piece of the puzzle. 

"I think the biggest thing about him from rookie camp and today is that I feel like he's worked hard. He's in great shape. And I think his skating has improved," Lambert said. 

Dufour agreed.

"I think I did pretty good. Today, I was pretty fast," Dufour said. "Skating at the end, the sprints, I was pretty good. So, I think I showed that I'm able to skate with those [NHL] guys."

Martin was impressed by how much Dufour pushed himself this summer. 

"Coming from junior, he could probably rely on his size. I know I used to, as well," Martin said. "And, a lot of ways you rely on your size and your strength, and I don't want to say neglect any other parts of your game, but, probably, last year was a little bit of a learning experience for him."

"And I'm sure the coaches and management told him what he needed to work on and credit to him for pushing himself hard this offseason and working on that and getting better.

Martin continued: "[He's in] better shape, and I think a lot of people have been talking about his skating being better, so it's probably better."

Maggio and Dufour are eager to prove to the coaching staff that they can help the Islanders, as soon as this season. Even if camp doesn't end in a roster spot, which is the likely scenario, their goal is to make sending them home (to Bridgeport) rather difficult.