2025 NHL Draft: Matthew Schaefer chosen No. 1 overall by New York Islanders

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday by the New York Islanders.

The 17-year-old Schaefer, the No. 1 ranked player by NHL Central Scouting, had a shortened 2024-25 season with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters after missing the first nine games due to mononucleosis and then suffering a broken clavicle during the IIHF World Junior Championship in December.

The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Schaefer recorded seven goals and 22 points in 17 games with Erie this past season.

"He does it all on the ice – defends well as an elite skater with good gap control and has the ability and smarts to consistently produce offensively," according to NHL Central Scouting's report on Schaefer.

"He has a great feel for the game and knows when to make a simple play, when to block a shot and how to get the job done. His puck retrievals are on point, he can skate his way out of trouble and capably lead the rush offensively. He quarterbacks the power play and is an offensive threat to score or set up teammates."

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Schaefer is now just the fifth defenseman to be selected No. 1 overall following Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres, 2021), Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres, 2018), Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers, 2014) and Erik Johnson (St. Louis Blues, 2006).