Matthew Schaefer isn’t perfect—but the Islanders might need him anyway

I’m not the biggest Matthew Schaefer fan out there, even if I’d understand general manager Matthew Darche’s logic for picking him No. 1 overall. Schaefer could be the next Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, given the way he performed this season before an injury cut his campaign short. 

Schaefer’s 22 points and seven goals in 17 games show us just how much production he had going for him if he managed to stay healthy. Or, at least that’s what he’d have been on pace for. Still, my concerns with Schafer go beyond the fact he didn’t see much time on the ice this season. 

He was okay in 2023-24 for the Erie Otters, and he didn’t seem to break out until he entered international play that season. But, he played well in more than just the OHL this year, looking good in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the Prospects Challenge, and the World Juniors. Regardless of where he played, Schaefer was consistent. 

Another advantage of drafting Matthew Schaefer would be…

That blue line would be tough to deal with, especially if everyone returns from last season, plus Schaefer. If you get Noah Dobson back on form, then the blue line on Long Island’s going to be one scary bunch. Plus, it’s not like there aren’t at least solid options in free agency. 

Players like Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers are there as I write this, and while Misa would be a better long-term solution than both of them, it’s not like they can’t play. No, neither are current superstars and no, neither will give you more than about five good seasons, but they’re manageable until players like Calum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman are ready to roll. 

Ritchie could even be ready this season in a full-time role, and if he plays well early AND the Isles go with Schaefer, then Mathieu Darche will more than look like a genius. Still, I’m in the Misa camp, but what I’m saying here is, it could work more than well with Schaefer if done properly. 

Matthew Schaefer would also continue a defense-first trend

Under Lou Lamoriello, the Islanders were never a bunch of superstars when it came to scoring consistently. Yeah, they had their scorers, but when you thought of the Isles, they were a hard-nose, defense-first team. 

Drafting Schaefer continues that trend. And while some may want to see the team distance itself from the old Lamoriello days, they still need to admit the Isles were relevant more often than not under his leadership. He did something right with forging an identity that fans could relate to when they heard the word Islanders. 

No, he didn’t do everything well, putting the organization against the wall with the salary cap. But the identity the team had is what made them almost perennial contenders. So, it wouldn’t faze me if the Isles went with Schaefer. But still, Misa’s name rests at the top of my draft board. All that being said, Schaefer would more than be worth it if picked first in a manner of speaking.

Mroe from Eyes on Isles