The New York Islanders made history by selecting 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft. Schaefer, a physical and skilled player, brings a two-way game that includes natural scoring and playmaking abilities.
General manager Mike Grier described Misa as an “ultracompetitive kid” who is “an offensive force” with a keen defensive instinct. At 6-1, Misa will be a significant addition to the Sharks’ top-six forward role, but Grier emphasized that he must come into training camp and try to take a job.
The Islanders selected Schaefer first overall after a brief presentation by Mike Grier, describing the prospect as “an elite player” with exceptional defensive skills. The 6-2 center is seen as a potential large complement to Connor Bedard, according to some draft boards.
Frondell’s selection marked the eighth Swedish player to be chosen in the top three of the NHL draft, joining elite company including Victor Hedman and Mats Sundin. At 17 years old, Frondell showed off a two-way game that allowed him to push Misa on some draft boards.
The Nashville Predators chose Brady Martin with the fifth pick before trading up for Cameron Reid with the 21st selection. The Kings selected Henry Brzustewicz from the Memorial Cup champion London Knights in their first round, and the Penguins made a series of moves to acquire players including center Caleb Desnoyers.
This year’s NHL draft lacked the centralized structure that has long been a staple. Instead, many executives watched picks from remote locations, exchanging televised pleasantries with their new front offices through videoconferencing.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/45599149/new-york-islanders-select-matthew-schaefer-top-pick-2025-nhl-draft