"The New York Islanders had one heck of an offseason this summer. The bitter ending to the season was immediately washed away by the unbelievable results of the NHL Draft Lottery. The lottery landed the Isles the first-overall pick. In the weeks since the 2025 NHL Draft, we've learned about how the Islanders never really thought about trading the pick. Sure, there was plenty of speculation about moving the pick, but the plan was to use the pick."
"It's unreasonable to suppose Schaefer can come in and take the NHL by storm. Sure, he has the potential to do it. But it may not happen this season. It may not happen next season. In fact, it may take three or four seasons before he does. Fans should keep in mind that growing pains are inevitable. There's a very good chance Schaefer may only play 10 or 12 minutes a night to begin."
The New York Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery and used the first-overall pick on 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The organization chose to keep and select the pick rather than trade it, signaling a commitment to internal development. Schaefer joins a roster that retains its current core while adding complementary pieces under GM Mathieu Darche. Expectations are tempered; Schaefer may face growing pains, limited minutes, or nights as a healthy scratch initially, and his full impact could take three to four seasons. The Islanders plan to build their blue line around Schaefer while managing existing veterans' contracts.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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