Islanders fans should be realistic about Matthew Schaefer

New York Islanders fans are right to be excited about Matthew Schaefer, but should also be realistic about their expectations.

New York Islanders fans must be patient with Matthew Schaefer as he steps into the role of a number-one NHL defenseman. | Bruce Bennett/GettyImagesThe New York Islanders had one heck of an offseason this summer. The bitter ending to the season was immediately washed away by the unbelievable results of the NHL Draft Lottery. The lottery landed the Isles the first-overall pick.

In the weeks since the 2025 NHL Draft, we’ve learned about how the Islanders never really thought about trading the pick. Sure, there was plenty of speculation about moving the pick, but the plan…