Matthew Schaefer's beautiful night gets uncomfortable after ESPN panelist asks inappropriate question

From the suit he wore to the minute he kissed the pink ribbon on his Islanders sweater, we knew this was going to be an emotional night for Matthew Schaefer. The first overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft made sure his special moment was a memoriam to his mother, Jennifer. 

Jennifer Schaefer died of breast cancer in February 2024 after a two-year battle. When Schaefer walked onto the stage of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, he was able to release years of emotion. During his interview in the NHL Draft House, he fought back tears and thanked his mother once again.

It was truly a beautiful moment in an overall presentation where ideas that probably sounded better in theory did not come across as well on live television. There were a couple of good moments, including Adam Sandler playing the role of Happy Gilmore to announce the Boston Bruins' pick (James Hagens), but many more that were head-scratching.

The 'Draft House' interviews were mostly awkward and at times a little uncomfortable. But then Schaefer sat with the ESPN panel for an additional interview and that's when things went off the rails. It started out well enough as Schaefer talked about how much the Islanders' gesture of putting the ribbon on his sweater meant to him. 

Then John Buccigross asked: "What do you miss most about her?"

Huh?

Schaefer gave him a couple of chances to repeat the question, but Buccigross asked it again and to Schaefers credit he gave a wonderful classy answer about her positive spirit and how much she inspired him in the time while she was a facing a terminal illness.

Needless to say the fan backlash on X was swift and decisive.

It certainly won't go down as a high moment in Buccigross' career, but credit to Schaefer, an 17-year-old young man,, for being composed in the moment. That should speak well of his future n the NHL,

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