NY Islanders begin a new era in the 2025 draft.

🏒 A New Era Begins: The Islanders’ No. 1 Pick in 2025

Draft Lottery Surprise

In a stunning twist of fate, the Islanders leapt from the 10th-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by winning the lottery on May 5th—a move that saw them climb nine spots at once.

Matthew Schaefer: A Star on and off the Ice

With that top selection, the Islanders chose 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer from Hamilton, Ontario, who played for the OHL’s Erie Otters.

Standing 6’2″ and 183 lbs, Schaefer is widely viewed as an elite puck-moving defenseman—exceling in skating, transitional play, and defensive instincts—even though a midseason clavicle fracture limited him to just 17 games New York Post.

He’s just the fifth defenseman taken first overall since 2000, and the first since Owen Power in 2021.

A Poignant Moment

Schaefer’s journey has been marked by personal tragedy: he lost his mother to breast cancer in February 2024, and tragically, his billet mom also passed away shortly after.

At the draft, the Islanders honored his mother by decorating his jersey with a pink ribbon patch and her initials (“JS”), which brought Schaefer to tears when he recognized it and kissed the ribbon after donning the jersey for the first time.

Islanders’ Strategic Vision

This year's draft wasn’t just about the top pick. GM Mathieu Darche executed a bold move, trading defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal in exchange for two additional first-round picks (16th & 17th overall) and forward Emil Heineman.

With those picks the Islanders added prospects like Victor Eklund (LW) and Kashawn Aitcheson, part of a larger initiative to build a stronger, more dynamic prospect pipeline.

Prospect Pipeline Poised for the Future

According to recent analysis, the Islanders have significantly bolstered their pipeline with top-tier prospects, positioning Schaefer at the forefront alongside promising names like Cole Eiserman, Cal Ritchie, Victor Eklund, and Kashawn Aitcheson.

The organization’s renewed commitment to youth and development—highlighted by their first-ever summer prospect camp under Darche’s leadership—signals a long-term vision aiming beyond quick fixes toward sustained competitiveness.

✨ The selection of Matthew Schaefer, combined with aggressive prospect acquisitions and a renewed developmental infrastructure, makes it clear: the Islanders are constructing a foundation for long-term success. Fans are buzzing, and the future looks sharper and faster than ever.