Overview

• New GM Mathieu Darche traded veteran defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for the Nos. 16 and 17 picks, adding depth to the Islanders’ draft portfolio.
• With the No. 1 overall pick in a decentralized draft, New York chose 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer, the top-ranked North American defenseman for his skating and two-way prowess.
• Schaefer overcame a December clavicle injury suffered at the IIHF World Junior Championship and is now fully healthy and ready to develop.
• During his jersey presentation, Schaefer kissed a pink breast cancer ribbon added by the Islanders to honor his mother, Jennifer, who died last year.
• This selection represents the franchise’s first top pick since John Tavares in 2009 and signals a youth-driven approach to rebuilding under Mathieu Darche.