Overview

• General manager Mathieu Darche confirmed Schaefer will debut Thursday against the Penguins.
• Schaefer is projected on the third defense pair with Scott Mayfield and to quarterback the second power-play unit.
• Under CHL/NHL rules he can play up to nine NHL games before burning the first year of his contract, prompting an early-season decision on an OHL return or staying in the NHL.
• The Islanders finalized their roster with Adam Boqvist as the extra defenseman and assigned Isaiah George to AHL Bridgeport.
• Multiple players were placed on Season-Opening Injured Reserve, including Pierre Engvall and Ethan Bear, and with Semyon Varlamov on IR the goaltending tandem opens as Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich.