Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Matthew Schaefer is selected as the first overall pick to the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday in Los Angeles.
Schaefer, who will turn 18 on Sept. 5, played for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons.
The 6-foot-2, 183-pound Hamilton, Ontario, native was limited to 17 games with Erie last season after missing the first nine with mononucleosis and then breaking his right clavicle on Dec. 27 while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer in February 2024, two months after his billet mother, Emily Matson, died in an apparent suicide. When commissioner Gary Bettman presented Schaefer with an Islanders jersey, the youngster teared up as he kissed the symbolic pink ribbon added to the jersey.
“I miss her a lot,” Schaefer said of his mother. “I wish she could be here today.”
With the second overall selection, San Jose chose center Michael Misa from Saginaw, who led the OHL last season with 62 goals and 72 assists in 65 games.
“His 200-foot game, the speed he plays with, the passion he plays with, the compete. We just thought it was a perfect fit with what we already have here,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. “Another guy to step in and be a matchup nightmare. “
At No. 3, the Chicago Blackhawks selected center Anton Frondell, who played with Djurgarden in Sweden’s second division last season. The Utah Mammoth followed with Moncton (QMJHL) center Caleb Desnoyers, who posted 35 goals and 84 points in 56 regular-season games before leading the Wildcats to the QMJHL championship.
The Nashville Predators continued the run on centers by selecting physical center Brady Martin of Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) with the fifth pick. Martin earned MVP honors while leading Team Canada to gold at the Under-18 World Championships in April.
Philadelphia selected right winger Porter Martone of Brampton (OHL) at No. 6. He set franchise records for single-season points (98) and assists (61).
The Boston Bruins drafted Boston College center James Hagens at No. 7. Hagens was considered the potential first overall pick prior to this season, but he wasn’t as productive with Boston College as he was in two seasons with the United States National Development Team. He produced 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games for the Eagles while centering a line with first-round picks Ryan Leonard (Washington) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers).
The Seattle Kraken picked center Jake O’Brien of Brantford (OHL) at No. 8 before the Buffalo Sabres grabbed the draft’s second defenseman, Radim Mrtka of Seattle (WHL). Anaheim selected center Roger McQueen from Brandon (WHL) with the 10th pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had their highest pick since 2012 and they selected Benjamin Kindel, a center for Calgary of the WHL, with the 11th pick.
The Penguins also had the 12th selection, but they traded it to the Flyers in exchange for picks 22 and 31.
Philadelphia chose Jack Nesbitt, a center from Windsor of the OHL who had two goals and an assist in the final two games for Canada in the Under-18 World Championships last April, helping them win gold.
The Detroit Red Wings chose Carter Bear, a left wing with Everett of the WHL, with the 13th pick.
With the 14th pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected Jackson Smith, a defenseman with Tri-City of the WHL.
The Seattle WHL club had another player go in the first round when Vancouver selected center Braeden Cootes with the 15th pick.
The Islanders then had back-to-back picks at Nos. 16 and 17 after acquiring them from the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Noah Dobson earlier in the day.
New York took right winger Victor Eklund from Djurgarden in Sweden at No. 16. Eklund is the younger brother of William Eklund, who was drafted seventh overall by the Sharks in 2021.
The Islanders then grabbed another defenseman, taking Kashawn Aitcheson of Barrie of the OHL.
The Calgary Flames had the 18th pick, and they selected Cole Reschny, an undersized center from Victoria of the WHL. He is headed to the University of North Dakota.
The St. Louis Blues went 19th, and they took right winger Justin Carbonneau of Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL.
Columbus’ second pick of the night, at 20th overall, was Pyotr Andreyanov, the first goalie taken in the first round since 2021. Andreyanov played for the junior team affiliated with CSKA Moscow.
–Field Level Media
