Seventeen-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the New York Islanders’ top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, made headlines this week after firmly distancing himself from trade chatter linking him to the Florida Panthers. His comments came during a light-hearted but revealing appearance on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast.
Matthew Schaefer Declares Loyalty to Islanders Amid Panthers Trade Chatter
Schaefer, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Islanders on June 27, addressed rumors that Florida might pursue him in the future, saying plainly, “I’m not even allowed anymore. I’m an Islander now. Islander for life.”
His response followed a joke made by former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle, suggesting Panthers GM Bill Zito might try to acquire him. Schaefer’s dismissal of the idea was met with cheers from Isles fans already embracing him.
This all came shortly after Schaefer returned to the ice at the Islanders’ development camp. It was his first time playing in front of the home crowd since breaking his collarbone during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in December.
The Long Island crowd welcomed him warmly, offering standing ovations and rallying behind him, even booing the player who checked him during a scrimmage.
Matthew Schaefer Impresses in Islanders Camp and Embraces Leadership Mentors
Schaefer is spending the summer training in Mississauga, Ontario, at Bryan Marshall’s facility alongside NHL veterans like Sean Monahan, Andrew Ladd, and Leon Draisaitl. But what stands out most is his mentorship under veteran defenseman Mark Giordano.
The 40-year-old former Norris Trophy winner has taken Schaefer under his wing, sharing insights and guiding the young prospect on what it takes to succeed at the NHL level.
“Nothing was given to him,” Schaefer said, speaking of Giordano. “To have a guy like that you can rely on and ask stuff is amazing.”
It’s clear Schaefer values work ethic and humility, qualities he sees in Giordano and aims to mirror.
That same grounded attitude shined through at the Isles’ development camp. During the Blue and White Scrimmage, Schaefer showcased elite skating and vision, logging crisp breakout passes and strong backchecking.
Despite Team White winning 4–0, Schaefer’s performance earned praise from coach Patrick Roy, who lauded his humility and maturity.
“He’s very intelligent, very mature. I really like this kid,” Roy said.
The Blue and White Scrimmage marked Schaefer’s return to game action since December, and the young defenseman admitted he still has areas to improve.
“My cardio, I probably [need to] work on it a little bit,” he said with a smile. “But I just want to go out there and keep progressing.”
Despite the Islanders not yet signing Schaefer to his first NHL contract, fans have already embraced the No. 1 pick. His popularity soared even further after joking on Spittin’ Chiclets that he’d use his signing bonus to buy co-host Paul Bissonnette a nose job.
Schaefer will continue his offseason training in Toronto before returning for Islanders training camp in September. There, he’ll train with Islanders defensemen Adam Pelech and Isaiah George, keeping up his development as the franchise’s promising new cornerstone.
