Islanders Make it Official, Draft Matthew Schaefer First Overall

The worst-kept and most exciting secret for the New York Islanders is now official. The franchise selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Schaefer, 17, immediately becomes the best prospect the Islanders have had since John Tavares in 2009. As a defensive prospect, he’s the best since either Denis Potvin was selected first, or when the Islanders acquired former first-overall pick Bryan Berard before his NHL Debut.

The emotions of the moment cannot be overstated. He cried tears for his late mother, who passed away due to breast cancer. The jersey the Islanders gave him to put on at the NHL Draft featured a breast cancer patch. He put on the jersey, kissed the patch, pointed to the sky, and cried tears. An unbelievably powerful moment.

Schaefer told the Draft during his interview: “I miss her a lot. I wish she could have been here today.”

His elite skating, coupled with a total package in all three zones, made him the slam-dunk prospect of this draft. Off the ice, they don’t make people better than Schaefer. His value and skill cannot be overstated enough.

From the illustrious EliteProspects: “Schaefer controls games from the back end, making the play flow through him. An elite puck-rusher, he takes off from behind his net, using it as a shield against the forecheck, and traverses the defensive zone with a few long strides. He spots teammates in every direction, making both one-touch plays and elaborate, deceptive feeds. Attacking down, he grabs the spotlight and draws opponents to him, before turning and relaying the puck across.”

Here is Schaefer’s media availability:

If you haven’t heard his story, which includes both his mother and his billet mother passing away months apart, read this piece from this morning: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/why-matthew-schaefer-is-a-franchise-defining-prospect-on-and-off-the-ice/

Health, NHL Comparisons, & Development Camp:

Schaefer stated multiple times that he wants to be in the NHL this fall and is working hard toward that goal. He missed most of this season due to a broken clavicle.

Schaefer’s been compared to the elites of the NHL, with his most common comparison being Miro Heiskanen. He projects to be a slam-dunk number one defenseman, with the ability to dictate play on both the power play and penalty kill.

Schaefer will be on Long Island for the development camp, which starts this upcoming week.