CHL to NHL: 2025 first overall pick Schaefer debuts with Islanders
Photo credit: Natalie Shaver
Former Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders Thursday night.
The Stoney Creek, Ontario native set up Jonathan Drouin for the Islanders first goal of the night and Schaefer’s first NHL point. The 6’2″ defender would go on to play 17:15 minutes adding a shot and a hit in a 4-3 Islanders loss.
Schaefer was the first overall pick by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft.
It was his first competitive game since Dec. 27 where he broke his collarbone playing for Canada at the 2025 World Juniors after he collided with the goalpost.
Despite missing the majority of the 2024-25 season – where he also faced a bout with mono in September – the 18-year-old was the unanimous no. 1 selection headed into the NHL Draft and will shape the Islanders’ blue line for the foreseeable future.
At the 2025 CHL Awards, Schaefer was awarded the Top Prospect Award while internationally, he has claimed gold at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge, 2024 U18 World Championships and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The 17-year-old was the first overall pick in the 2023 OHL Draft and made 73 appearances for the Otters.
Welcome to The NHL, Matthew Schaefer and Maxim Shabanov! pic.twitter.com/GUEUtIMcSY
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 9, 2025
