He is the total package as a skater. He has a phenomenal top gear and will push the pace with the puck through open ice. He loves to activate on the rush, and he can afford to, as his straight-line speed affords him the ability to quickly rotate back to the points or catch up on the backcheck.

Matthew Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer. Now, he’s achieved the ultimate milestone – becoming an NHL player. The 17-year-old was selected by the New York Islanders with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft on Friday in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES – The expectation always was for the Islanders to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick in the NHL Draft. That became a reality on Friday night at The Peacock Theater.