The New York Islanders have signed Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.
According to PuckPedia, the contract includes an $877,500 base salary, a $97,500 signing bonus, and the potential for $3.5 million in performance bonuses—split between $1 million in Class “A” bonuses and $2.5 million in Class “B” incentives.
By signing the entry-level deal, Schaefer is no longer eligible to play in the NCAA, effectively narrowing his immediate path to one of three options: the NHL, a return to the OHL’s Erie Otters, or a rare move to Europe.