Mathew Barzal joined the New York Islanders on the ice Saturday for his first practice of training camp after agreeing to a three-year, $21 million contract.

"I love the game, and I was anxious,'' Barzal said. ''I wanted to get out with the boys.''

The 23-year-old star forward missed the first few days of camp as the NHL's most prominent unsigned restricted free agent. General manager Lou Lamoriello was confident a deal would get done, and it happened five days before the Islanders open the season at the rival New York Rangers.