How Matt Martin's family is making NY Islanders rookie feel at home at their house

Long Island has adopted Matthew Schaefer as its newest franchise hope. One household has done more — it has taken him in. The 18-year-old New York Islanders rookie defenseman is living with Matt Martin and his wife, Sydney, in a home that already includes four children ages five and under.

Schaefer and Martin connected quickly after the draft. “He met Matt right after the draft, so he instantly… took a connection to him,” Sydney said Wednesday on Boomer & Gio. Schaefer began coming over for dinners, and comfort, not convenience, became the deciding factor. “His dad… said to Matt, ‘He’s really comfortable at your house… loves being with your kids… do you think you guys would take him in?’”

The Martins agreed — and then made sure it felt like home. Knowing Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to cancer last February, Sydney framed family photos and placed them in his room. “We didn’t know if he was going to get emotional,” she said, so they sent daughter Winnie to reveal the room. “He was touched… and very thankful.”

The bond has formed quickly. “He gets to see Alice every morning, and she goes nuts,” Sydney said of their almost-three-year-old. “It’s like she hasn’t seen him in four days.”

On the ice, Schaefer has delivered a six-game point streak to open his career — but it is the off-ice support system that may matter more. Martin, now a special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche, has gone from fourth-line enforcer to live-in mentor. Sydney described the fit simply: “I wanted him to feel at home… and I think he’s definitely feeling comfortable… we’re getting into a groove here. It’s working.”

A teenage No. 1 pick is learning the NHL from inside a house where people live real life.

That may be the biggest advantage of all.