The New York Islanders selected 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer from the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft. This marks the first time an OHL player has been chosen first overall since Connor McDavid in 2015. Schaefer, despite a recent collarbone injury, was considered the top selection due to his elite skill.
Islanders select blueliner Matthew Schaefer with No. 1 pick in 2025 NHL draft
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The New York Islanders selected 17-year-old defenceman Matthew Schaefer from the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft. This marks the first time an OHL player has been chosen first overall since Connor McDavid in 2015. Schaefer, despite a recent collarbone injury, was considered the top selection due to his elite skill.
Trending- 1 December: Matthew Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone
- 2 2015: Connor McDavid was selected 1st overall in the NHL draft
- 3 Friday (June 27, 2025): Matthew Schaefer was selected No. 1 overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL draft
- 4 Saturday: Rounds two through seven of the 2025 NHL draft continue
- Matthew Schaefer joins the New York Islanders organization
- The Islanders traded defenceman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for Emil Heineman and two draft picks
- The 2025 NHL draft marked the first decentralized draft in a non-pandemic environment
- Schaefer is the first OHL player selected 1st overall since Connor McDavid in 2015
What: Matthew Schaefer, a 17-year-old defenceman from the Erie Otters, was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft by the New York Islanders.
When: Friday (June 27, 2025) for the first round of the draft; rounds two through seven continue Saturday. Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone in December.
Where: Peacock Theater (draft venue), Hamilton (Schaefer's origin).
Why: Schaefer was viewed as the 'slam-dunk top selection' for months due to his elite skill at both ends of the rink, despite a recent injury.
How: The New York Islanders made the selection at the 2025 NHL draft, which was held in a decentralized format for the first time in a non-pandemic environment.