An up-and-down preseason opener for NY Islanders’ top pick Matthew Schaefer

For much of Sunday night, 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer showed flashes of the talent that made him such a coveted prospect. But as with many 18-year-olds stepping into their first NHL action, his debut came with both high points and growing pains.

The home crowd greeted Schaefer with loud cheers from the moment he was announced as a starter, and they roared again when he recorded his first preseason assist on Kyle Palmieri’s goal. Schaefer’s best moment came in overtime, where he used his explosive skating to chase down Flyers forward Matvei Michkov and break up what looked like a sure breakaway. Head coach Patrick Roy praised Schaefer’s poise, calling him “fun to watch” and noting how impressive it was to see him trusted in so many situations, including power play, penalty kill, and late-game scenarios.

But the night wasn’t without its bumps. Schaefer took a pair of minor penalties, the kind of mistakes that show he’s still adjusting to the speed and physicality of NHL competition. He also received a true “welcome to the league” hit when veteran Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway buried him into the boards — a moment that tested both Schaefer’s durability and resilience. To his credit, he shook it off and kept pushing.

Schaefer himself admitted it was a mixed bag. “To get out there and get the feel of things, there’s obviously a lot of things to work on, maybe stay out of the box a bit,” he said. “I thought it was a good start but a lot of work to put into my game.” For an 18-year-old in his first NHL preseason test, the performance showed both why the Islanders are excited about Schaefer’s future and why patience will be required as he grows into a cornerstone role.