Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images When the New York Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, it flipped the tone of their summer overnight. What began as an offseason overshadowed by a tough playoff exit was instantly filled with hope. The Islanders, rarely on the winning end of lottery luck, suddenly held the No. 1 pick.Plenty of speculation swirled in June about whether general manager Mathieu Darche might deal the pick for immediate help. But as Darche explained later at his post-draft press availability in Montreal, “The plan was never to trade it. We knew what we had and we knew what we wanted.”
Matthew Schaefer’s draft arrival marks turning point for New York Islanders’ defense
On June 28 in Las Vegas, New York used that top selection on Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer. At just 17, the blueliner is viewed as the foundation for a defensive reset but patience will be essential.Expectations should be tempered in the early stages. Defensemen typically take years to develop into full-time NHL contributors, and Schaefer is no exception. Fans at UBS Arena may only see him playing 10 to 12 minutes a night, or occasionally sitting out. As one scout noted during draft week in Las Vegas, “He has the tools to take over games, but it may be three or four years before he’s doing that every night.”Darche echoed that approach when speaking at the team’s development camp in Long Island this July. “Matthew’s here to grow into our system. We’re not asking him to be a Norris winner at 18. We’re asking him to take the right steps,” he told reporters.
New York Islanders veterans guiding blue line as Matthew Schaefer develops
For the time being, the Islanders’ blue line still leans on veterans like Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and Tony D’Angelo, who signed a one-year deal this offseason. The one constant for the future is Alexander Romanov, already locked in long term.The Islanders envisioned a defense built around Schaefer and Romanov in the years ahead. As Darche told reporters at UBS Arena, “A Schaefer-Romanov pairing is something we’re excited to imagine.” Alongside them, young names such as Isaiah George, Calle Odelius, and Jesse Pulkkinen could eventually carve out spots.The 2025 NHL Draft may have delivered the Islanders their most important piece in years, but the timeline won’t be immediate. Supporters will need patience as Schaefer adjusts to the league and grows into the role New York believes he can own.The question isn’t whether Matthew Schaefer will define the Islanders’ future, it’s how long fans are willing to wait for him to take control of the blue line.Also Read: Florida Panthers shock NHL: Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett sign blockbuster long-term deals before free agency