Matthew Schaefer touches on the experiences of his rookie season with the NY Islanders while at the 2026 NHL Draft

It was a historical season for Matthew Schaefer in his rookie campaign, setting a new record seemingly every night on the road to earning the Calder Trophy.

While Schaefer's excitement on the ice was more than noticeable, spending time with his teammates off the ice was just as memorable.

"Going on the road with the guys was honestly so cool," Schaefer said while appearing on Sportsnet's draft coverage. "I mean, you're going out to dinners, and the guys don't let you pay at all. They treat you so well. Everyone in the Islanders organization. You got out, and I mean, they treat you so amazing. I come in, and it feels like I've been there forever. They're all like my dads, basically because they're a lot older than me. At the end of the day, it's family."

While the Islanders have struggled to bring in big-name free agents, players who arrive on Long Island typically don't want to leave. And that's because of the sense of family they have while being away from their families.

And while they have struggled to attract big names, Schaefer could play a massive role in changing that. Being part of Sportnet's broadcast for the 2026 NHL Draft and announcing the Islanders' selection of Malte Gustafsson shows that the Islanders and the NHL want to market this kid, as he could one day be the face of the league. Just three months younger than Gavin McKenna, who was selected first overall last night, 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer was one of the first people to interview him.

Since being drafted, Schaefer has shared his admiration for Long Island and its people, and each time he's seen in a role like tonight, it makes the fans realize how lucky they are to have a person like him playing for tehir team.

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