"We're incredibly excited,"
"It's going to mean exciting hockey at UBS Arena."
"He is one of the most mature people I've ever met, Ledecky said. A friend of mine who got to interact with him said, 'I just can't believe this kid is 18 years old. The maturity. The calm confidence. The integrity. His high character. His family background. Everything about him.' He's always asking how you're doing versus how he's doing. He doesn't talk about himself. He talks about you and others. And I find that so incredibly refreshing."
"It's a tight locker room, Ledecky said. It's a locker room of leaders. Whether it's Bo Horvat or Anders Lee or any of the other veterans, they're providing leadership for the younger guys. That's super important for the team."
The New York Islanders enter the 2025-26 season with heightened optimism centered on 18-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the team's No. 1 overall pick. Schaefer pairs on-ice ability with uncommon maturity, calm confidence, integrity, high character, and a supportive family background. He demonstrates humility by focusing on others and asking how people are doing. Schaefer will begin his NHL career surrounded by veteran leaders such as Bo Horvat and Anders Lee who will mentor younger players. The roster is shifting toward a youth movement after being among the league's older teams, aiming to align closer to the NHL average age and boost long-term competitiveness.
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