With a new general manager, a much-hyped prospect and a new fan-friendly attitude, the New York Islanders are calling this season the start of a "new era."

Step one began Thursday as the Islanders started their rookie training camp.

Twenty-six players hit the ice at the Northwell Health Ice Complex in East Meadow, including recent first-round draft picks Matthew Schaefer and Kashawn Aitcheson. Maxim Shabonov, a 24-year newcomer from Russia's KHL, was also with the group.

"Everyone is competing, and everyone is giving it their best," said Aitcheson, who was the 17th overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft.

The camp comes just six days after Schaefer's 18th birthday. The young defenseman was the No. 1 pick in the draft and was recently named the league's No. 1 prospect by the NHL Network. Now the spotlight is on him as he tries to make the Islanders' NHL roster.

"Pressure is a privilege. Not many kids get this opportunity. You don't want to take it for granted. You want to put your head down and be ready to work," said Shaefer.

The young defenseman from Canada said he spent the summer working out in Toronto with a group of NHL players, including the Flames’ Nazem Kadri and the Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan.

“You’re going up against them, it’s pretty cool. You don’t want to get caught puck watching. I did that once with Kadri. I got put on my butt. They’ve helped me so much along the way and gave me so much feedback about their experiences,” said the young defenseman, with a chuckle.

Shaefer also praised some of the current Islanders for making him feel welcome. He said he's been out to dinner with some of them and asked their advice about life as a pro and how to survive training camp.

"They said to just enjoy it. You're never going to go straight. You'll go up and down. Don't get too high when things are high or low when they are low. Keep it at an even steady pace and have fun," said Shafer.

Lloyd Harbor's Marshall Warren is also back in the rookie camp for his second season. The 24-year-old defenseman had a successful year playing for the Islanders' AHL team in Bridgeport.

"I've learned a lot, and it was good to show that I can produce at that level and I'm ready to go," said Warren.

Warren also said his friends and family want to know what's going on with the team as it enters this new era. He's excited for it too, especially seeing the young talent the team is gathering.

"When you see talent like this, you want to be a part of it," he explained.

The rest of the team will join the rookies for full training camp next week.