Matthew Schaefer signs 3-year entry level deal with Islanders | amNewYork

No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Schaefer has agreed to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) with the New York Islanders on Monday, the team announced. 

By signing the deal, the 17-year-old defenseman likely will attend college, which could have been an option.

Schaefer has made it known that he expects to make the Islanders out of training camp and be a mainstay on the blueline henceforth, which is very much an option now that his ELC is signed.

“You want to play in the NHL, and you want to play for as long as you can,” Schaefer said at rookie camp last month. “For me, it’s just getting my body ready and working as hard as I can, playing with NHL guys all summer. They’re going to be pushing me. Being in that environment is super big, and I want to be on that opening-night roster. So that’s a me thing.”

However, he could still spend the entire 2025-26 season with his junior team, the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), if he is not deemed ready for the full-time workload of the NHL. He could play nine games at the NHL level — the maximum before burning a year of the contract — and either stay with the Islanders or return to Erie. 

Schaefer emerged as the consensus top prospect leading up to the draft in June despite breaking his clavicle in December with the Canadian national junior team. With Erie, he recorded 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in just 17 games before suffering his injury. 

His tour celebrating his selection at No. 1 overall hit Queens on Monday night when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the Mets’ series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Citi Field. 

For more Matthew Schaefer and the Islanders, visit AMNY.com