The 17-year-old defenseman of Erie of the Ontario Hockey League paid tribute to his late mother after hearing his name called. He arrived to L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in a suit jacket that included photos of his mom Jennifer, who passed away in February 2024 from breast cancer.

LOS ANGELES – The expectation always was for the Islanders to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick in the NHL Draft. That became a reality on Friday night at The Peacock Theater.

He is the total package as a skater. He has a phenomenal top gear and will push the pace with the puck through open ice. He loves to activate on the rush, and he can afford to, as his straight-line speed affords him the ability to quickly rotate back to the points or catch up on the backcheck.