Islanders' No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer sends a daring message to New York Rangers

Matthew Schaefer, selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL draft, had a bold message about the New York Rangers.

When asked about which team he was most excited to face, Schaefer highlighted the Islanders-Rangers rivalry, expressing his eagerness to compete against the Blueshirts and his determination to defeat them in every matchup.

"I'm saying Rangers. I heard there's a big rivalry. I want to play against the Rangers, and I want to beat them every time we play them," the No. 1 pick said.

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The Battle of New York is going to be interesting next season. Matthew Schaefer is widely regarded as an elite defenseman prospect with the potential to become the No. 1 defender in the league.

His OHL season with the Erie Otters was cut short due to the injury sustained at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, which sidelined him for the final 46 games, including playoffs.

Schaefer was honored with the CHL top prospect award in 2025, becoming only the second Erie player, after Connor McDavid, to earn it, despite his limited playtime.

Matthew Schaefer paid emotional tribute to his late mother

Matthew Schaefer paid an emotional tribute to his late mother, Jennifer, during the event. Jennifer passed away from breast cancer in February 2024.

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Schaefer honored her memory by wearing a custom suit jacket featuring family pictures and her signature on the inner lining near his heart. After being drafted, he kissed the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon on his Islanders jersey and pointed to the sky, visibly emotional, dedicating the moment to her.

Schaefer expressed that he felt her presence, wishing she could have been there but knowing she was with him in spirit.

"Honestly, when she was passing, I got to say everything I wanted to say. I love you, I miss you, and I'm going to make you proud. I always go visit her cemetery and I went before I left, and what I wanted to say to her was that I promise I'm going to make you proud," he said.

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Meanwhile, centers Michael Misa and Anton Frondell were selected No. 2 and No. 3 overall by the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta