Islanders sign Matthew Schaefer to three-year, entry-level contract

The New York Islanders announced Monday the team had signed defenseman Matthew Schaefer to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Schaefer, 17, was selected by the Islanders with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 17 regular-season games.

The Stoney Creek, Ont., native had his season was cut short due to an injury sustained at the 2025 World Junior Championships while representing Canada.

In two OHL seasons, Schaefer recorded 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 73 career regular-season games. In the 2024 OHL Playoffs, he recorded three assists in six games.

After playing with the Halton Hurricanes and Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs Under-16 AAA teams, Schaefer was taken with the first overall selection in the 2023 OHL Draft by the Otters.

Internationally, apart from representing Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championships, Schaefer played at the 2024 World Under-18 Championships, where he helped Canada earn a gold medal, scoring a goal and four assists for five points.

The Islanders went 35-35-12 with 82 points in 2024-25, finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division. New York finished nine points back of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Forward Bo Horvat led the team in points with 57, recording 28 goals and 29 assists. Forward Anders Lee led the team in goals with 29, while Horvat and Noah Dobson tied for the team lead in assists with 29.

Goaltender Ilya Sorokin posted a 30-24-6 record with a 2.71 goals against average (GAA) and a .907 save percentage (SV%) in 61 appearances.