Islanders Crown Matthew Schaefer No. 1 in Emotional 2025 NHL Draft
Sarah Johnson
June 28, 2025
Brief
New York Islanders select Matthew Schaefer as No. 1 pick in 2025 NHL Draft, a resilient defenseman with a heartfelt story.
The New York Islanders kicked off the 2025 NHL Draft with a bold move, selecting 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer as the No. 1 overall pick on Friday. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, the 6-foot-2 standout from the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters brings a rare blend of defensive grit and offensive flair to the ice. Despite a collarbone injury limiting him to just 17 games last season, Schaefer’s two-way prowess made him a near-unanimous choice atop draft boards.
Schaefer’s journey to this moment is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. Having lost his mother, Jennifer, to cancer 16 months ago, and recently mourning the deaths of the Otters’ owner and his billet family’s mother, Schaefer’s resilience shone through. When he donned the Islanders sweater, he kissed the pink ribbon patch for breast cancer awareness, a poignant nod to his mother, before tears welled up.
As only the fifth defenseman to go No. 1 since 2000, following Buffalo’s Owen Power in 2021, Schaefer marks a new chapter for the Islanders, who won the draft lottery. The decentralized draft, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, saw teams like the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks picking second and third, respectively, in a talent-rich field.
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Editor's Comments
Schaefer’s draft moment was a tearjerker, but let’s be real—his stickhandling might just break more than collarbones on the ice! Here’s hoping he defends the net better than I defend my fridge from late-night raids.
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