The New York Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. And with this victory, they earned the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. New York has their pick of the litter, but many believe Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer will be the pick next Friday.
Schaefer emerged as the consensus best player in the 2025 NHL Draft class. The Otters star did miss time with a collarbone injury following the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge in late November. However, this has not dropped his draft stock in the slightest.
Ahead of the NHL Draft, Otters general manager David Brown shared some very high praise for his soon-to-be former defenseman. Brown has seen elite talent reach the highest heights in the NHL. But there’s something about Schaefer he believes will separate him from the rest.
“I’ve worked with a lot of very highly elite players, whether that be Connor McDavid, Alex Pietrangelo, Dougie Hamilton, Dylan Strome or Alex DeBrincat,” Brown said of the potential Islanders draft pick, via NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale. “Schaefer … he’s got an aura about him that I’ve never seen before. He’ll meet you for one time and know everything about you. It’s an elite trait he has, and for a kid to go through the setbacks he’s had, it hasn’t changed him. If anything, it’s made him better.
“I have no doubt he’s a No. 1 defenseman in the National Hockey League. I know he needs to gain weight and muscle, but the other tools he has are unique. When you put it together with who he is as a person, it’s generational.”
Matthew Schaefer is Already Impressing NHL GMs
Dennis Pajot/Getty ImagesMatthew Schaefer is expected to become an elite defenseman with the New York Islanders.
Schaefer has the tools to become a top-pairing defenseman in short order. He has impressed against his peers while also making an impact on the international stage. And he has already made an impression on NHL executives.
Schaefer was one of many 2025 NHL Draft prospects to attend the Scouting Combine in early June. He met with various teams, and one top-10 team came away with a high opinion of the potential Islanders draft pick.
“His interaction with people is very different than most,” Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said, via Morreale “It feels like you’re talking to a 30-year-old already. It’s his energy. After you talk to him, you come away feeling good.”
Schaefer to Islanders is Not Guaranteed
Of course, it’s easy to get caught up in pre-draft speculation. However, it is worth pointing out that Schaefer is not guaranteed to land with the Islanders. In fact, there is a 2025 NHL Draft prospect with a legitimate connection to the team.
Boston College star James Hagens is a Long Island native. He trains in the area and was a fan of the Islanders growing up. New York could use center depth in their prospect pipeline, even with the acquisition of Calum Ritchie from the Colorado Avalanche at the NHL Trade Deadline. There is an avenue where Hagens is the selection.
For now, though, the consensus is that Schaefer is the Islanders’ selection. If this happens, New York would add the consensus best player in the class. And he could become the next great defenseman in franchise history if his development goes well.
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