Potential NY Islanders draft pick, Matthew Schaefer, has an awkward first encounter with Connor McDavid

As the NHL does each season, a few of the top prospects for the upcoming draft take in a Stanley Cup Finals game, just before their big day.

This season, Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, James Hagens, and Jake O’Brien are the lucky four, spending a few nights in South Florida with the opportunity to interact with some of the world's elite players.

Awkward moment for Schaefer

Connor McDavid, who has a Conn Smythe Trophy to his name but is still in search of his first Stanley Cup, played junior hockey for the Erie Otters of the OHL, the same organization as Matthew Schaefer, who the NY Islanders could likely select with the first overall pick.

McDavid, the first overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2015, had his jersey retired in Erie this January, with Schaefer in attendance, days after breaking his collarbone at the 2025 World Junior Championship. 

Schaefer and McDavid met again in South Florida, but Schaefer will always remember his first interaction with the league's best player from back in January.

“I didn’t think I was going to talk to him at his jersey retirement, then I ended up talking to him,” Schaefer told reporters today in Sunrise, FL. “I remember, I ran out of things to say and ended up looking at McDavid and go, ‘I’m proud of you.’” Nobody would say that. I’m a young kid, and I’m saying that to him. That was a funny thing, I tell everyone that story.”

“He just laughed and goes, ‘Thanks man.’”

Not the smoothest of first impressions for Schaefer, but whether it’s with the Islanders or another organization, Schaefer will soon have the opportunity for McDavid to be proud of him.