New York Islanders Put Classy Touch On First Draft Pick's Jersey

The New York Islanders had a classy move at the NHL Draft for Matthew Schafer when they drafted him. See the tribute here.

Jun 27, 2025 by Lindsey Plotkin

New York Islanders Put Classy Touch On First Draft Pick's Jersey

When Matthew Schaefer was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, there was not a dry eye from anyone in his family. Schaefer lost his mother to breast cancer in 2024, and honored her with photos inside of his suit lining for draft night.

But the Islanders also honored his mother, Jennifer, by putting a pink ribbon, the symbol of breast cancer awareness on his jersey. See the moment here:

The #Isles putting a cancer ribbon on Schaefer’s jersey was an incredible touch. There are a lot more than Islanders fans rooting for him already. https://t.co/z07xIKveG2
— Brendan Burke (@brendanmburke) June 27, 2025

No. 1 New York Islanders Select: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters

Scouting Report

An all-around defenseman with size, physicality, high-end skating ability and skill. He missed most of the season first with illness then a collarbone injury. In his small sample, Schaefer didn’t have any truly bad games. He is consistent, mature, and has all of the tools to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. His skating is among the best in the class and his hockey sense is right up there, too. Schafer has been through a lot in his young life, but has met his challenges with grace well beyond his years. As a pick, he is not without risk, but there’s so much upside that teams have mostly dismissed the long absence and still view him as a potential long-term No. 1 defenseman at the top of his projection.

Instant Analysis

The Islanders traded Noah Dobson earlier in the day, losing their No. 1 defenseman. Now they have their No. 1 defenseman of the future. Matthew Schaefer became the consensus top pick over the course of the season with his spectacular play. His skating ability, maturity and hockey sense are all going to make him an instant impact player. The Islanders are not as good in the short-term without Dobson, but their long-term outlook is very, very bright with a franchise cornerstone.

The 2025 NHL Draft Order

Round 1

1. NY Islanders
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
4. Utah
5. Nashville
6. Philadelphia
7. Boston
8. Seattle
9. Buffalo
10. Anaheim
11. Pittsburgh
12. Pittsburgh (from VAN via NYR)
13. Detroit
14. Columbus
15. Vancouver
16. NY Islanders (From MON via CGY)
17. NY Islanders (From MON)
18. Calgary (from NJD)
19. St. Louis
20. Columbus (from MIN)
21. Ottawa
22. Philadelphia (from COL)
23. Nashville (from TBL)
24. Los Angeles
25. Chicago (from TOR)
26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS)
27. Washington
28. Winnipeg
29. Carolina
30. San Jose (from DAL)
31. Philadelphia (from EDM)
32. Calgary (from FLA)

Round 2

33. San Jose
34. Chicago
35. Nashville
36. Philadelphia
37. Washington (from BOS)
38. Seattle
39. Buffalo
40. Philadelphia (from ANA)
41. Montreal (from PIT)
42. NY Islanders
43. NY Rangers
44. Detroit
45. Anaheim (from CBJ via PHI)
46. Utah
47. Vancouver
48. Philadelphia (from CGY)
49. Montreal
50. New Jersey
51. Boston (from STL via PIT and EDM)
52. Minnesota
53. San Jose (from OTT)
54. Calgary (from COL via WSH)
55. Nashville (from TBL)
56. Tampa Bay (from LAK)
57. Seattle (from TOR via UTA and TBL)
58. Vegas
59. Pittsburgh (from WSH)
60. Anaheim (from WPG via NJD)
61. Boston (from CAR via COL)
62. Chicago (from DAL)
63. New Jersey (from EDM via UTA)
64. Toronto (from FLA)

Round 3

65. Vancouver (from SJS via VGK and NYR)
66. Chicago
67. Nashville
68. Philadelphia
69. Boston
70. NY Rangers (from SEA)
71. Buffalo
72. Anaheim
73. Pittsburgh
74. NY Islanders
75. Detroit (from NYR via UTA)
76. Detroit
77. Columbus
78. Utah
79. Montreal (from VAN)
80. Calgary
81. Montreal
82. Montreal (from NJD)
83. Edmonton (from STL)
84. Pittsburgh (from MIN via PHI and NSH)
85. Pittsburgh (from OTT via STL)
86. Toronto (from COL via NSH and SJS)
87. Carolina (from TBL)
88. Los Angeles
89. NY Rangers (from TOR via ANA)
90. New Jersey (from VGK)
91. Vegas (from WSH)
92. Winnipeg
93. Washington (from CAR)
94. Dallas
95. San Jose (from EDM)
96. Ottawa (from FLA)

Round 4

97. Ottawa (from SJS)
98. Chicago
99. New Jersey (from NSH)
100. Boston (from PHI via TOR)
101. Anaheim (from BOS via DET)
102. Seattle
103. Buffalo
104. Anaheim
105. Pittsburgh
106. NY Islanders
107. Chicago (from NYR)
108. Montreal (from DET)
109. Columbus
110. Utah
111. NY Rangers (from VAN via COL)
112. Florida (from CGY)
113. Montreal
114. New Jersey
115. San Jose (from STL via CBJ)
116. Buffalo (from MIN via ANA)
117. Vancouver (from OTT via EDM)
118. Colorado
119. Detroit (from TBL)
120. Los Angeles
121. Minnesota (from TOR)
122. Vegas
123. Washington
124. San Jose (from WPG via DAL)
125. Carolina
126. Dallas
127. Tampa Bay (from EDM)
128. Florida

Round 5

129. Florida (from SJS)
130. Pittsburgh (from CHI via TOR and WSH)
131. Nashville
132. Philadelphia
133. Boston
134. Seattle
135. Buffalo
136. Anaheim
137. Toronto (from PIT)
138. NY Islanders
139. NY Rangers
140. Detroit
141. Minnesota (from CBJ)
142. Utah
143. Vancouver
144. Calgary
145. Montreal
146. Dallas (from NJD)
147. St. Louis
148. Pittsburgh (from MIN via NYR)
149. Ottawa
150. San Jose (from COL)
151. Tampa Bay
152. Los Angeles
153. Toronto
154. Vegas
155. Washington
156. Winnipeg
157. Philadelphia (from CAR)
158. Dallas
159. Anaheim (from EDM)
160. Florida

Round 6

161. New Jersey (from SJS)
162. Chicago
163. Nashville
164. Philadelphia
165. Boston
166. NY Rangers (from SEA)
167. Buffalo
168. Anaheim
169. Pittsburgh
170. NY Islanders
171. NY Rangers
172. Detroit
173. Columbus
174. Utah
175. Vancouver
176. Calgary
177. Montreal
178. New Jersey
179. St. Louis
180. Minnesota
181. Ottawa
182. Nashville (from COL)
183. Carolina (from TBL)
184. Los Angeles
185. Toronto
186. Vegas
187. Vegas (from WSH)
188. Winnipeg
189. Carolina
190. Dallas
191. Edmonton
192. Florida

Round 7

193. Tampa Bay (from SJS)
194. Chicago
195. Buffalo (from NSH)
196. Los Angeles (from PHI)
197. Chicago (from BOS)
198. Seattle
199. Buffalo
200. Anaheim
201. Pittsburgh
202. NY Islanders
203. NY Rangers
204. Detroit
205. Columbus
206. Tampa Bay (from UTA)
207. Vancouver
208. Calgary
209. Montreal
210. San Jose (from NJD)
211. Detroit (from STL)
212. Tampa Bay (from MIN)
213. Ottawa
214. Colorado
215. Tampa Bay
216. Los Angeles
217. Toronto
218. Columbus (from VGK)
219. Buffalo (from WSH via SJS)
220. Winnipeg
221. Carolina
222. Dallas
223. Edmonton
224. Florida

How To Watch The 2025 NHL Draft

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will be televised exclusively on the NHL Network as well as ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. Rounds 2-7 will be on NHL Network and ESPN+.

FloHockey's Top 100 NHL Prospects

Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100 before the NHL Draft, see the full list here.

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Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

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