Islanders make Schaefer No. 1 pick in NHL draft

The New York Islanders selected gifted 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.

An elite puck-mover and brilliant skater with a top-end, two-way transition game, Schaefer has great poise, posture and edges that allow him to not only carry play from end to end but close quickly on opponents, shut down the rush and be a playmaker in his own right.

Despite a draft season limited by injury, Schaefer collected seven goals and 22 points in just 17 games with Erie.

This year's draft lacks the centralized structure that has long been a staple; the 32 teams' various executives are mostly at home, not strewn across the draft floor at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

But the players chosen in the first round Friday still will take the stage to cheers from their families and hockey fans before they begin their careers.

The San Jose Sharks have the No. 2 overall pick, while the Chicago Blackhawks are third. The Utah Mammoth and the Nashville Predators round out the top five.

ESPN's Kristen Shilton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.