New York surprises nobody by using its first No. 1 selection since 2009 on the 17-year-old Schaefer, a 6-foot-2 blue liner who spent the past two seasons with the OHL’s Erie Otters.

The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday in Los Angeles.Schaefer, who will turn 18 on Sept. 5, played for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons.