Matthew Schaefer has a message for the NY Rangers after being selected first overall by the NY Islanders

It was less than an hour after being selected first overall by the NY Islanders, and Matthew Schaefer has already entrenched himself in the NY Islanders and NY Rangers rivalry.

An impressive young man at only 17 years old, Schaefer has enamored fans and TV personalities, mature beyond his years. And if Islanders fans weren’t already on his side, his response to which team he is most looking forward to playing against has certainly appealed to the Isles faithful.

Schaefer is ready for the Isles vs Rangers rivalry

“I’m saying Rangers,” Schaefer replied immediately. “I hear there’s a big rivalry, so I want to play against the Rangers, and I want to beat them every time we play them. I know there’s a big rivalry, so yeah. I heard they (Islanders fans) don’t like Rangers fans as much, so getting those extra wins means a lot. You know, it’s respect with the fans too. So yeah, I’m excited to hear about that rivalry and play against them.”

Schaefer didn’t stop there, telling Kevin Connolly, Islanders fan and one of the stars of HBO’s Entourage, “We’re going to beat the Rangers every time we play them.”

What makes Schaefer’s selection even sweeter is that the pick may not have been possible without the Rangers' 9-2 blowout win over the Islanders in game 78. The Isles finished three points behind the Rangers and one place ahead of them in the draft order, meaning it very well could have been the Rangers picking first overall. 

Schaefer is an easy kid to root for, whether you’re a fan of the Islanders or not. The Islanders got a good one with this pick, and will become a big part of the NY rivalry.