As the New York Islanders opened training camp, veteran defenseman Scott Mayfield had high praise for top draft pick Matthew Schaefer, who is skating with NHL veterans for the first time.
“You can tell his skating out there is phenomenal,” Mayfield said after Thursday’s session. “He’s got that first step, he jumps up the ice. He’s a pretty special player.” Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is stepping into a steep learning curve. But Mayfield noted that everyone has to adjust after the offseason, regardless of experience.
“There’s an adjustment for everyone, even guys that have played a thousand games,” Mayfield said.