NY Islanders Matthew Schaefer put his personality on display at 2026 NHL Draft

New York Islanders star defenseman and Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer wasn't the No. 1 overall pick at the NHL Draft this year. He didn't have to walk across the stage, pull on a jersey or answer questions about the emotions he was feeling in the moment.

Yet somehow, one year after becoming the face of the Islanders franchise, Schaefer still managed to be one of the biggest attractions in Buffalo on Friday night. From the moment he arrived on the draft floor in a sharp suit, slicked-back hair and his usual larger-than-life personality, it was clear that Schaefer wasn't just there as a guest. He was there as a star.

Before the Islanders were even on the clock at No. 13, Schaefer had already made the rounds on both the ESPN and TSN broadcasts. And, honestly, he looked like he'd been doing television for years. He joked about living "rent free" with Matt and Sydney Martin until he's 30 years old, laughed about how many of his Islanders teammates have become his "hockey dads," and offered his thoughts on this year's draft class. The cameras kept finding him, and every time they did, he delivered.

Then came the moment Islanders fans had been waiting for. Schaefer walked to the podium to announce the Islanders' selection of Swedish defenseman Malte Gustafsson with the 13th overall pick. Later, Schaefer sat down with Gustafsson for a light-hearted interview that felt more like a veteran broadcaster welcoming a guest than a second-year NHL player talking to a draft pick.

Maybe Schaefer is quietly auditioning for a television career he'll need 25 years from now. More likely, though, this is simply who he is. The Islanders knew they were drafting an elite defenseman when they selected him first overall. What they've discovered over the last year is that they also drafted someone with genuine star power. And for a franchise that has spent years searching for its next face, that might prove to be just as valuable.

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