Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Matthew Schaefer is chosen as the primary general decide to the New York Islanders within the first spherical of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures Matthew Schaefer mentioned he’s centered on the duty at hand when he makes his NHL debut for the New York Islanders on Thursday.
One might perceive if Schaefer, the highest general decide of the 2025 NHL Draft, took a second to measurement up the competitors. In spite of everything, the 18-year-old will face off in opposition to Sidney Crosby and the host Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday earlier than testing his mettle versus Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
“You actually do not take into consideration who you are going up in opposition to,” Schaefer mentioned earlier than his debut. “Clearly, you have to know what sort of fashion they play, like a bit of sooner, all that stuff. However I feel simply going on the market, placing your head down, working by it, and simply working goes to be the large factor.
“I do not need to go on the market and simply be like, Oh, I am going up in opposition to him. It is simply hockey, proper? So that you need to go on the market and work as laborious as you possibly can. And, , simply overlook about who’s on the ice.”
Schaefer has proven no sick results of the damaged clavicle that ended his season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. The 6-foot-2 defenseman sustained that damage on Dec. 27 whereas enjoying for Canada on the IIHF World Junior Championship.
Wholesome and able to contribute, Schaefer will likely be tasked in aiding beginning goaltender Ilya Sorokin because the Islanders try to enhance upon final season’s sixth-place end within the Metropolitan Division.
There is not a lot room for error with New York, which tied for twenty seventh within the NHL final season in common targets per recreation (2.71) and sported the league’s second-worst energy play (12.6 p.c) and penalty kill (72.2 p.c).
It is not all gloom and doom for the Islanders, who noticed captain Anders Lee report a team-best 29 targets whereas Bo Horvat contributed a club-best 57 factors. A wholesome Mathew Barzal ought to present a jolt as effectively.
Lee collected three targets and one help and Horvat added 5 factors (one purpose, 4 assists) to assist New York win three of the 4 conferences in opposition to Pittsburgh final season.
The Penguins, nonetheless, bought off on the fitting foot Tuesday with a 3-0 street victory over the New York Rangers.
Justin Brazeau scored two targets, Evgeni Malkin notched two assists and Arturs Silovs made 25 saves in a shock begin over Tristan Jarry.
“It felt nice to be on a brand new workforce,” Silovs mentioned. “I feel now we have fairly good chemistry with the blokes already and it is so good to play and it is even higher to win on the street. … Work pays off, I felt assured, I felt like my recreation was stable and simply hold going.”
The top-coaching victory was the primary for Dan Muse, who spent the earlier two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rangers.
Rickard Rakell was held in verify on Tuesday after recording career-best totals in targets (35) and factors (70) final season.
Crosby, who led the Penguins in assists (58) and factors (91) in 2024-25, additionally was held off the scoresheet within the season opener.
–Area Stage Media
