The New York Islanders orchestrated a pivotal and eventful first round at the NHL Draft in Los Angeles, fundamentally reshaping their future under recently appointed general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche. The expectation of selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick was realized, a consensus choice that followed the Islanders' improbable win in the NHL Draft Lottery, despite only a 3.5% chance. The reverberations of Commissioner Gary Bettman's announcement were felt acutely back at UBS Arena in Elmont, where a large, loud crowd celebrated the anticipated news with rising confetti, signaling new hope for a team that had missed the playoffs.

Matthew Schaefer, a 17-year-old defenseman from the junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL), was ranked first on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s list of North American skaters and was considered to possess the best skating ability among all draft prospects. Darche expressed immense confidence in the selection, stating, “First and foremost, we’re drafting him because he’s an unbelievable hockey player. The human being is exceptional. A 17-year-old to have that resilience and maturity with everything he’s gone through is beyond impressive.” Schaefer, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 183 pounds, blends elite skating skills with strong playmaking ability, high hockey IQ, and robust two-way play, including effectiveness on both power play and penalty kill. His past season with the Erie Otters was limited to 17 OHL games due to illness and a broken collarbone, where he recorded seven goals and 15 assists. However, he is now fully healthy and medically cleared.

A poignant moment during the draft involved Schaefer, who lost his mother, Jennifer, to cancer in February 2024 and had also experienced the death of his billet mother to suicide. As he donned the Islanders jersey on stage, he shed tears, thinking of his mother, especially when he discovered the team had placed a cancer ribbon on the jersey, which he immediately kissed. This gesture deeply moved him, reinforcing his belief in the organization’s high-class nature. Schaefer’s selection makes him the Islanders’ fifth first overall pick in franchise history, joining John Tavares (2009), Rick DiPietro (2000), Denis Potvin (1973), and Billy Harris (1972). He also duplicates Connor McDavid’s feat of being selected first overall in both the OHL and NHL drafts.

Beyond the top pick, Darche’s busy day included a significant trade: pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson was sent to the Montreal Canadiens after a contract negotiation impasse. In return, the Islanders acquired fourth-line energizer Emil Heineman and picks Nos. 16 and 17. Dobson promptly signed an eight-year, $76 million extension with Montreal. Darche had initially attempted to package these newly acquired picks to move up in the draft, specifically targeting Hauppauge's James Hagens, a local fan favorite who ultimately went seventh overall to the Boston Bruins. Despite not landing Hagens, Darche was “beyond excited” that Swedish wing Victor Eklund and OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson were still available at picks 16 and 17, as they were rated much higher on the Islanders' internal list.

Victor Eklund, a 5-foot-11, 161-pound right wing, recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 42 games for Durgardens and is expected to return to play in Sweden. Kashawn Aitcheson, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound defenseman, played a physical, agitating game for Barrie, tallying 26 goals and 33 assists in 64 games, and will likely play a fourth OHL season. Aitcheson, who has played against Schaefer in the OHL, expressed excitement about joining him. All three new prospects—Schaefer, Aitcheson, and Eklund—are scheduled to participate in the Islanders’ summer prospect development camp, which commences on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.

While Schaefer’s arrival brings immense hope, Darche cautioned against immediate comparisons to Dobson, noting Schaefer is left-handed while Dobson is right-handed, and there's no guarantee Schaefer will jump straight to the NHL as Dobson did in 2018. Schaefer himself acknowledged that his real work begins now, focusing on training to be ready for the NHL level. This draft represents a long-term play and a “new beginning” for the franchise, as co-owner Jon Ledecky stated. Fans, drawing parallels to Denis Potvin’s No. 1 overall selection leading to four Stanley Cups, are brimming with optimism. While the team may take a step or two back before moving forward, the gears are in motion under Darche to retool a roster and update the franchise’s overall direction, with a clear focus on building a team with aggressive, good-skating players.