NY Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer decides where he will live this season

During ESPN’s first intermission report on Thursday night, Emily Kaplan revealed that New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer will soon be moving in with Matt Martin and his family for the remainder of the season.

Schaefer, the 18-year-old No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has been living in a Long Island hotel since arriving in August for training camp. According to Kaplan, roughly 10 Islanders teammates offered to open their homes to the young defenseman as he settled into NHL life. Ultimately, Schaefer chose not to live with a current teammate but instead with Martin — the recently retired Islanders forward who now serves as special assistant to the general manager.

Martin and his wife, Sydney Esiason, the daughter of former NFL MVP and WFAN morning radio show host Boomer Esiason, are well-known figures in the Islanders community. The couple has four children — two daughters and twin boys — and are fixtures in the team’s family circle. Martin, one of the most respected leaders in recent Islanders history, played over 900 NHL games, including 12 seasons with New York, and has long been a mentor to young players entering the league.

Kaplan reported that Schaefer’s move will happen in the coming days and that the organization views Martin’s household as the ideal environment for the 18-year-old to continue adjusting to the demands of NHL life — both on and off the ice.

For Schaefer, who has already made NHL history in his first week with the Islanders, the arrangement provides a stable family atmosphere and a daily link to the team’s veteran culture. For Martin, it’s a seamless continuation of the leadership role he embodied throughout his playing career — now extending from the locker room to his own living room.