Matthew Schaefer was the obvious pick for the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, and now, Mathieu Darche has inked the No. 1 overall pick to his Entry Level Deal.
The New York Islanders have undergone an incredible transformation in recent times, with new General Manager Mathieu Darche leaving the 2025 NHL Draft with an absolute haul of talent.
This is a great move to get done early in the off-season for the Islanders, and with both Kashawn Aitcheson and Viktor Eklund joining the draft class, the future of the Islanders is being formed right in front of our eyes.
As for Schaefer however, he's got the chance to be a generational star on the blue line, entering the NHL Draft after tallying 22 points in 17 games for the Erie Otters last season, showing why he's been compared to some of the games top players ahead of his rookie campaign.
On top of that, Schaefer is just 17-years of age until September, meaning that he's got even more time to develop in the Islanders system, and after trading away Noah Dobson, he's got a very bright future and a position waiting for him in the NHL.
This is just the first step in what could be a very promising career for the Ontario native, and while we may not see him in the NHL this season, Islanders fans are incredibly excited about his arrival, with this new deal signalling it won't be long before we see him at the top level.