Los Angeles – Matthew Schafer has been voted on the island.
Backen Schafer, who spent the past season with Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League, was elected first player in total by the New York Islanders in conjunction with 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft in La Live’s Peacock Theater on Friday.
Schaefer (188 cm, 84 kg) is the second player ever from Erie Otters to be chosen as one in total and the first since Connor McDavid was chosen as one of Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 NHL draft.
The Islanders received the first choice in this year’s draft after winning the draft lottery on May 5, where nine places were moved up from the club’s original position.
Schaefer, who turned 18 on September 5, accounted for 22 points (7+15) and went plus-21 over 17 matches this past season. The hill underwent an operation on December 30, three days after breaking in the clavicle in connection with representing Canada at the 2025’s JVM in Ottawa. The hill missed the closing 46 games of the season, including nine games in the OHL playoffs.
The slopes were well declared by doctors on May 1 and participated in all exercises except two (pull-ups, bench press) in conjunction with 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics in Buffalo earlier in June.
In conjunction with the draft, Schaefer wore a jacket that contained sewn photos of his mother. The moment was an emotional one for Schaefer, who lost her mother Jennifer to breast cancer in February 2024.
