Islanders Matthew Schaefer to become third top overall pick to debut against Crosby

When 18-year-old New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer takes the ice Thursday night in Pittsburgh, he won’t just be making his NHL debut — he’ll be joining some rare company.

According to NHL Public Relations, when he hits the ice versus the Pens on Thursday, Schaefer will become only the third first-overall pick to make his NHL debut against Sidney Crosby, following John Tavares (Oct. 3, 2009) and Connor Bedard (Oct. 10, 2023). The matchup will also make Schaefer the 38th No. 1 pick Crosby has faced in his career — tying Corey Perry, Zach Parise, and Zdeno Chara for the second-most in NHL history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr (39).

Just two nights later, Schaefer will line up against another future Hall of Famer — Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals — in what promises to be a whirlwind opening week for the Islanders’ rookie.

For Schaefer, though, the focus isn’t on the names on the other bench.

“Obviously, it’s going to be pretty cool,” Schaefer said. “Playing in the NHL and going up against guys like that — it’s a dream come true. But when you get on the ice, you just have to zone it out. Everyone’s out there to play hockey. You really don’t think about who you’re going up against.”

That composure has been a defining trait for the 18-year-old defenseman since the start of training camp. Schaefer earned his spot with a steady two-way game, skating confidence, and a level head beyond his years — traits coach Patrick Roy and GM Mathieu Darche both praised throughout camp.

“You want to go out there, put your head down, work boots on, and just work,” Schaefer said. “I don’t want to go out there and think, ‘Oh, I’m going up against him.’ It’s just hockey, right? You go out, work as hard as you can, and forget about who’s on the ice.”

For Schaefer, it’s not about who’s across from him — it’s about belonging beside them