If you look around the Islanders' practice facility in Syosset, New York, you can see plenty of reminders of the franchise's glorious past. Banners hang from the ceiling honoring their four straight Stanley Cups and the great players who helped win them like Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bobby Nystrom and coach Al Arbour. Many of the photos hanging around the rink also recall those great teams from the late 70s and early 80s.

This week, however, the franchise is looking towards the future as it holds its annual prospects camp. And the two brightest stars at that camp are the team's highest rated rookie, winger Kyle Okposo, and this year's first round draft pick, center Josh Bailey.

The Islanders will be counting on Okposo to produce points this year. After leaving the University of Minnesota last December, he spent most of the season getting seasoning at the Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport where he scored nine goals and 28 points in 35 games. Okposo finished the season by playing the final nine games with the Islanders. The 2006 top pick scored twice and added three assists while showing a lot of promise.

Now in his third prospects camp, Okposo is considered a veteran by most of the players in attendance. He has noticed a difference in his play in this year's camp. "This year I feel more comfortable," Okposo said after a recent practice. "I played with a lot of these guys that I know and the younger guys are kind of looking up to us and I guess I’m considered a veteran here at this camp, it’s my third one. I know a lot of the guys and I’m more comfortable."

The nine game stint with the Islanders helped give Okposo an idea what he needed to do to be successful at the NHL level. As a result, he bulked up during the off-season and added between five and 10 pounds of muscle to his 6' tall frame.

"I think I’ve made progress this year. More than anything in the mental game, I feel like I’m sharper mentally. Turning to the physical side, I’ve put on a little weight and I bulked up a little bit so I’m ready to go."

Bailey, who the Islanders selected ninth overall after trading down twice in the first round at this year's entry draft, is in his first professional camp. The first thing he noticed was the difference between the tempo of the game at the prospect camp as compared to Major Junior.

"It’s definitely an upgrade," Bailey explained. "These are the best players from the league I played in, so the gathering of those players makes it a little quicker for sure. It’s also a lot of guy’s first full session on the ice in a little while so, so far so good."

Bailey is also aware of the franchise's great history and is thrilled to work with a legend like Bryan Trottier who has led the team in many on-ice drills.

"It’s awesome, you hear so much about them and obviously being a hockey fan myself, I know a lot of what happened here with him and how special a player he is," Bailey said about the Isles' Hall of Fame center. "So obviously you just feed off of these guys and anything you can learn you just try to take full advantage of it."

Bailey is not sure if he will start the season with the big club, but he has goals in mind for the coming season. "I’m just going to play it by ear and hopefully have a good camp. I have long term goals and markers but obviously, you just take it one step at a time. That’s what I plan on doing and just hope for the best."

Even after the one week camp, the Isles' top pick recognizes he needs to work on some things to improve his game. "Probably my skating and my shot obviously and you’ve got to bulk up if you want to make the next level, obviously moving from playing against boys to men," Bailey said. "If I can work on those three things I can hopefully be ready (for the NHL) as soon as possible."

Bailey views Okposo as an inspiration and a role model in this camp and the club has the duo rooming together for the week. "There’s such a small difference between me and him," Bailey explained. "He’s just a year older than me, so I think obviously you want to follow in guys like that’s footsteps. Me and him are rooming together so you just try to feed off something like that and learn a lot about the team."

Okposo has enjoyed Bailey's company. The two spent their first night rooming together talking about everything from hockey to where to get a good bite to eat on Long Island. "He asked me a couple of things last night, we talked for about an hour and a half or so and I told him anything he needs just ask me," Okposo said.

During Thursday's scrimmage, the Isles' dynamic duo combined to set up a key goal by defenseman Andrew MacDonald. Their play and their progress has pleased Bryan Trottier so far. "Guys I have higher expectations for like Bailey and Okposo are right where they should be," Trottier said. "They're making the right impression, doing some things well, but at the same time know they can do better because it's the middle of July and not in-season. Josh has made a good first impression. He had an open canvas at camp and has painted a solid picture for us."

The Islanders and GM Garth Snow have dedicated themselves to a youth movement for the coming season. If that philosophy is going to pay dividends, the Isles are counting on Okposo and Bailey to be a major part of the franchise's future.