Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer First Overall in NHL Draft
On Friday night, the New York Islanders made headlines by selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick in the NHL draft.
At just 17 years old, Schaefer, a 6-foot-2 defenseman from Hamilton, Ontario, was the clear choice for the Islanders, who hadn't held the No. 1 pick since 2009. Despite a challenging season where he played only 17 games due to a collarbone injury, Schaefer's skills on both offense and defense positioned him as a top prospect across various draft rankings.
Notably, Schaefer becomes only the fifth defenseman to be selected first overall since 2000, following Owen Power's selection by Buffalo in 2021.
His journey to this achievement has been marked by personal loss. Sixteen months ago, Schaefer's mother, Jennifer, passed away from cancer. He also faced the recent deaths of Jim Waters, the owner of the Erie Otters, and the mother of his billet family.
As he donned his Islanders jersey for the first time, Schaefer paused to kiss the pink ribbon patch on his chest, a symbol of breast cancer awareness, before tears filled his eyes.
The San Jose Sharks are set to pick second, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks at third in this newly decentralized draft taking place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
The Islanders won the lottery for this coveted first pick in a draft that is rich with talent but lacks some of the familiar faces from previous years.
While there was no consensus No. 1 pick this year, Schaefer emerged as the standout choice. The draft's format has shifted significantly, with many executives participating remotely rather than gathering on-site at the Peacock Theater.
