NY Islanders GM reveals what will decide Matthew Schaefer’s NHL roster spot

Whether Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, starts the season with the New York Islanders or is returned to junior hockey will be determined entirely by his performance in training camp, according to General Manager Mathieu Darche.

“It is up to Patrick,” Darche said during an appearance on The Jeff Marek Show, referring to head coach Patrick Roy. “And at the end of the day, Matthew still has to go through training camp. He's got to show us that he's ready to play in the NHL. Do we think he has a chance? Absolutely. But he's got to show us also.”

The Islanders signed Schaefer to a three-year entry-level contract this week. The 17-year-old defenseman, who turns 18 on Sept. 5—just days before the start of rookie camp—is eligible to play up to nine NHL games before the first year of his contract is activated. If returned to the Erie Otters of the OHL before that limit, his deal would slide, beginning in the 2026–27 season instead.

Darche made clear that nothing is being handed to Schaefer despite his No. 1 overall status. “Camp will tell us where and how much he plays depending how he goes,” he said. “Because, let’s face it… the NHL is another [level].”

The GM drew a comparison from his own playing days to emphasize the leap from junior and development camp to NHL regular season action. “I still remember as a player… I went to Nashville at training camp one year… I scored three goals [in] one intra-squad game and they asked Trotz about it,” Darche recalled. “He goes, ‘Remember those intra-squad games? It’s like Double-A. Preseason is like Triple-A. Then there’s the major leagues.’”

What gives Schaefer a chance to defy the odds and make the roster as a teenager is his elite skating—something Darche repeatedly emphasized. “His skating abilities is what enables him to have a chance to make our lineup,” Darche said. “If he wasn’t that good of a skater, it’s tough as a young defenseman.”

Schaefer, currently skating in Toronto, has been training with NHLers this summer, including veteran defenseman Mark Giordano, which Darche views as a valuable learning opportunity.

“What’s great this summer—he’s skating on the ice with Giordano quite a bit in Toronto, which, Mark is a smart defender,” Darche said. “And we have… Adam Pelech, who’s an outstanding defender. So we’ll have a lot of people to learn from.” Still, Darche stressed that the toughest hurdle for any young blueliner is the defensive responsibility that comes with playing in the NHL. “Every young D when they come in, the biggest part is the defending part of it,” he said.

For now, the Islanders will wait and let camp decide Schaefer’s fate. “Let’s pump the brakes,” Darche said, tempering expectations. “But I’m confident. His skating, his hockey sense, all that… his play at training camp will dictate where he plays.”