Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News caught up with New York Islanders prospect and OHL MVP Matthew Maggio for an exclusive interview about his past season, his summer plans & more.

Last August, 19-year-old Matthew Maggio walked through the doors of Northwell Ice Center for the first time. 

After going undrafted in 2021 following a season in Sweden due to the pandemic canceling OHL action, Maggio potted 38 goals and 47 assists in 66 games for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.

That breakout season caught the Islanders' attention, as they chose to draft the 5'11, 183-pound right winger 142nd overall in 2022. 

"He went over to Sweden, and that was the year when everybody went through the problems," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "And he came back here, and he was one of the top scorers in Windsor, and our scouts had watched him and sometimes players like that, because of the age (19) and it's only a six-month gap sometimes,…so you go that route."

Maggio caught my eye early at development camp due to his raw speed and quick decision-making. When the Islanders veterans were infused with the youngsters, Maggio continued to put the pedal to the medal.

"Internally, you see where you are in comparison to these guys," Maggio said as he reflected on what skating with the NHL pros was like at camp. "Just the skating of (Mat) Barzal and (Noah) Dobson was so cool to be out there with them and seeing how effortless they can skate and seeing the little things that you need to work on to get there. 

"I think a big thing for me was just being hard on my stick. Obviously, I'm not the biggest guy. I'm not gonna blow guys up but if I can be hard on my stick and create turnovers with my stick and be a smart player with my stick, that I could be out there.

I recall during a scrimmage where Maggio sniped Vezina-finalist netminder Ilya Sorokin from the high slot, going bar down.

That summer, I chatted with Maggio often after skates, as it became a bit of a running joke between the two of us when I'd walk into the locker room.

It was a rather longshot that Maggio would crack the Islanders' roster -- he knew that -- so I asked him what was next for him as camp was winding down. 

Maggio had one year left of OHL eligibility, but his age allowed him to play for the Bridgeport Islanders and start his professional career. 

He wasn't sure what the plan was. He was eager to start his pro career, but if Windsor was where they wanted him, Windsor is where he would be. 

After being part of cuts on Sept. 29, Maggio went down to Bridgeport before returning to Windsor for his final OHL season. 

"Going to Bridgeport was a great experience getting to start the year there. And I think it taught me a lot just about the right way to play the game," Maggio told The Hockey News. "And a big thing when they decided to send me back (to Windsor) was just making sure I'm playing the right way. 

Maggio's Final OHL Season

Returning to the OHL for his age-19 season meant he would be one of the older guys in the league.

"The Islanders said,' Obviously, we want you to have good numbers this year, but do it the right way and do it in a way that is going to translate to the pro level,' so I think that was just being good defensively and not cheating the game," Maggio said. 

The Windsor native didn't just put up good numbers; He exploded for 54 goals and 57 assists in 66 games, winning the Red Tilson Award given to the OHL's MVP. 

"I didn't really put like a full number to it. I knew that the year before, I got stuck at 38 goals with six or seven games left in the year, and I knew that I wanted 40. I knew that 50 was possible. I knew I wanted to crack 100 points, but I think a big thing for me was I wanted to finish first in our conference again," Maggio said. "I was trying to just change my mindset to win games where we're two points out of first, one point out of first... we're in first.

"So I think that mindset really helped me continue to put up points in that second half and where most guys were getting nervous and gripping the stick tight. I felt like I was pretty free just trying to play. And as long as I put the team first, I felt that the points were coming, so that was my formula for success, and it worked."

Wearing the "C" For Windsor

Wearing the "C" for his hometown Spitfires was a humbling experience for Maggio. 

"It was incredible. I grew up 10 minutes away from the rink. My dad worked for the team," Maggio said. "I think those are my first childhood memories, just being around the rink and stuff like that. So obviously, to be captain of that team and making it in your hometown is so special.

Maggio knew he had a tremendous responsibility as the captain and knew exactly how he wanted to lead.

"I'm a captain that's more of a people's people. I'm not really the meanest guy. I'm not going to scream at too many guys. I'm going to hold guys accountable, but I'm someone that wants to get personal and get a good basis with everyone and make sure that they felt welcomed here, so I think that was a really cool experience," Maggio said. 

"And then obviously when you do have the "C" on your sweater, the big thing I had to focus on was making sure that I'm leading by example, playing the right way, not overextending my shifts."

Maggio was honest, explaining how handling all those responsibilities in a critical season for his development wasn't easy. 

"It was tough when you're playing a good amount to finish every hit," Maggio said. "I wish I could go back and maybe do a little more of that but finishing all the hits and being good defensively and showing that that leads to offense, so I think those were the things that you have to do as a captain and to play the right way, so it was a lot of responsibilities, but it was something that I loved, and I thrive off."

Signing an ATO with Bridgeport

After finishing in first place, Windsor was upset by the No. 8 Kitchener Rangers on Apr. 7, with Maggio recording a goal and an assist in four games. 

A few days later, the Bridgeport Islanders signed Maggio to an amateur tryout (ATO) as he played three AHL games notching two assists before their season ended.

He earned his first pro point on Apr. 12 after a strong feed to Terry:

"It was great," Maggio said. "We didn't want the season to end in Windsor. It still haunts me to this day, every day, waking up and thinking about what I could have done differently  but heading into Bridgeport was a roller coaster, where you're really excited to get your pro career started, and I think everyone did a great job of integrating me."

Maggio played with veterans Chris Terry and AHL leading goal-scorer Andy Andreoff, which allowed the youngster to focus on playing his own game. 

With only a few games left on the schedule, there wasn't a lot of time for Maggio to learn the systems and structure that head coach Brent Thompson had in place.

"They just taught me the minimal systems and told me they wanted to see me play fast, play on my toes and play hard and just let me go there and do my thing," Maggio said. "And obviously, it was a bit of a transition. I felt myself getting more and more comfortable every game, and it really opened my eyes to the things that I need to work on this summer to come in and be an impact player for pro next year, wherever it is."

Signing His ELC

On May 2, Maggio put pen to paper on his three-year entry-level contract, which carries an AAV of $870,000. 

"It was incredible. It's a dream come true, but it's just a step in the door,' Maggio said. "It obviously means that they have faith in me. I'm pretty honored by that, but that doesn't really guarantee anything other than that you're gonna be with them, hopefully, for a few years. So now the work really starts, and it puts into perspective the summer that I need to have.

"It's a job now. Before, it was obviously something that you wanted to make a career out of. Now that you actually are, it's something where I need to be in the gym twice a day, tracking all my meals and stuff and it's a 24-hour devotion every day, making sure you're getting adequate sleep and hydration and all the little things that you don't really think about when you're playing junior. Now that you are under contract with them, you don't want to disappoint them. So I think it's just a full-on job now, and I'm really excited for that opportunity. I've been waiting for it for a bit."

UBS Arena Experience, Summer Plans

Before Maggio went home for the summer, he was on hand for Game Four between the Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes at UBS Arena.

"It was incredible. I was telling some of the guys I couldn't even imagine the atmosphere playing down there. I was trying to envision myself down there and looking at it like this is what the future could be, so it was definitely a little bit of motivation right before I went home there, and it's something to strive for," Maggio said. 

"I took a picture. It's my wallpaper on my phone. It's not too hard to wake up and go work out or go stretch or do any of that when when you're looking at that every morning, and that's where you want to be."

Maggio understands that he is a player that developed a bit later, and his main goal this summer is building strength.

"I think the big thing for me is turning my body into a man's body here," Maggio said. And I mean, you can tell I don't even really grow facial hair yet too much -- it's coming, it's a slow process -- but obviously, it's coming along now, and I think just becoming a lot stronger, tough to play against in the corners."

Maggio won't have to worry about the facial hair policy while Lamoriello is at the helm.

"I'm gonna be a lot more physical, obviously, in pro than in junior, and I do want to work on my first three steps and really have that part," Maggio said. "I think I'm a good skater. I'm confident in my skating once I get going on my edges, but in the NHL and AHL, you need to have that runaway speed -- first three steps -- and I think that's something that separates the good and great players in the NHL and something that I'm definitely going to hone in on the summer."

His appearance at training camp last summer is something that fueled him throughout his final season in the OHL. He understands the opportunity that he has with this organization.

"Getting a little taste of that was great, and it really drove me all year, where I want to work every day to get back here and stick around longer," Maggio said. "I see an opportunity here, and I want to run with it. So that comes down to my hard work and what I'm going to do over the course of the next few months here to try to make my stay as long as possible next year."