"When that No. 13 ping pong ball popped up on the night of the NHL Lottery, giving the NY Islanders the first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer was the expected first overall pick. Also expected is that he'd be the cornerstone of the franchise, giving them an elite skating, play-making option along the blue line. Schaefer is among the leagues top young talents What was unexpected is that he'd become all of that in his first 21 NHL games."
"The current front-runner for the Calder Trophy, Schaefer has exceeded expectations, and aside from being considered the league's top rookie, he's considered one of the NHL's top young talents. Each year, TSN unveils their NHL's best U-24 players, with Schaefer coming in at No. 3 on this year's edition, trailing only Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard. "When you pick someone No. 1 (overall), you hope that he transforms your franchise," says Craig Button. "He has done this in 20 games.""
Matthew Schaefer entered the NHL as the expected No. 1 pick for the NY Islanders and an anticipated defensive cornerstone. He provides elite skating and playmaking ability on the blue line and ranks among the league's top young talents. Schaefer recorded 15 points and seven goals in his first 21 games, tying for the most rookie points and matching the most goals by an NHL defenseman so far. He is the current front-runner for the Calder Trophy and is ranked No. 3 on TSN's Top-50 U-24 list behind Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard. Continued development could place him atop future U-24 rankings.
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