The NHL Draft, and the Islanders’ fifth first-overall pick in their history, is finally in sight. The consensus/echo chamber is getting louder and louder about Matthew Schafer being the logical and perhaps very special selection.
We’ll see. The kid’s backstory of tragedies (losing his billet mother and then his own mother in pretty quick succession) continues to get headlines, so thankfully he’s cool with talking about it and channeling it into a positive space. But you’re also seeing more prospect watchers and coaches say or perhaps talk themselves into how he’ll be something special, how he controls play, how he Drew Doughty’s this and [insert comparable] that.