New York Islanders picked Matthew Schaefer as their first draft in this years' NHL draft. The defenseman has expressed his desire to represent the Isles from the start of the next season under Patrick Roy's coaching.
Meanwhile, there is sufficient proof to suggest that top prospects who skip pre-NHL developmental leagues at a young age can suffer from a lack of form and lose confidence.
The Isles lack in depth in defence line. They sent Noah Dobson to the Montreak anadiens, making a big hole in their side. He was their highest point-scoring D-man with 39 points. Beyond Schaefer, the side's current picks are Ryan Pulok, Adam Boqvist, and Tony DeAngelo.
NHL analyst Mike Rupp said that the Isles should trust Schaefer as he remains the best defender for the side:
"I'm tough, I'm straddling the fence on this one because part of me wants to say it's not a problem. Because if he makes the team, that means he looks really good in camp. They're not going to take him if he's not ready. Mathieu Darche and company, this is a huge player for the future of the New York Islanders.
"There's no need to rush. I don't think they're going to. The problem is what happens if he's your best defenseman? They're not a really deep D-core in New York. And when I say best defenseman, most talented, because he might be the most talented right now," Rupp said.
Schaefer missed a lot of games in the last season due to issues on both on the ice and personal. He missed the first nine matches of the last season due to suffering from Mononucleosis, while also dealing mentally due to Otters owner Jim Waters' demise. During the 2025 IIHF world Junior Championship, Schaefer injured his clavicle, which ended his season.