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Matthew Schaefer’s Immediate Reaction to Being Drafted No. 1 Overall

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 8:45 PM ET

It was the worst-kept secret in the National Hockey League.

In the weeks leading up to the 2025 NHL draft on Friday, there was nearly zero mystery about who the New York Islanders were targeting with the No. 1 overall pick.

It didn’t take the Islanders long to make their way to the podium after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who was mercilessly booed by the packed crowd at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles — an NHL tradition — announced they were on the clock.

New York selected 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the consensus No. 1-ranked player in the draft class, and cameras caught the moment he heard his name called.

The moment Matthew Schaefer heard his name called first overall pic.twitter.com/3NxRBG9bPG
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 27, 2025

Schaefer’s dad Todd was noticeably emotional, perhaps even more so than his son, who became the Islanders’ highest draft pick since they took center John Tavares No. 1 overall in 2009.

“It's a dream come true,” Schaefer said on the broadcast after being picked. “I'm super thankful that the whole [New York] organization took a chance on me and they won't be disappointed.”

Schaefer, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound blueliner, logged seven goals and 22 points in 17 OHL games this season, where he played a shutdown role as the top defenseman on the Eerie Otters.

Schaefer also has some solid international experience, winning gold with Team Canada at the 2024 World U18 Championship and the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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