New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer is working hard this summer to crack the big squad this fall.
Former NHLer Mark Giordano is his trainer and has been working alongside Islanders veteran defenseman Adam Pelech as well as Islanders forward Bo Horvat.
Potential No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer On Islanders Bo Horvat, Adam Pelech & Mathieu DarcheLOS ANGELES — Matthew Schaefer is not a member of the New York Islanders organization just yet, but all signs are pointing to that with the 2025 NHL Draft just a day away.
There could be another Islanders player who joins Schaefer, and that's Casey Cizikas.
"I talked to Bo Horvat quite a bit. I was gonna train with him. And Pelech comes back to my gym," Schaefer said. "Cizikas may come back.
"I've talked to a lot of guys, and I can't wait to start working with them."
Jumping from the OHL to the NHL will be a gigantic step for Schaefer.
While he's a confident kid with a tremendous amount of hockey skill, Schaefer will need a support system in place to help him overcome obstacles that come his way.
The fact that he's trained this summer with not only NHLers but future teammates will go a long way toward Schaefer feeling comfortable in the room as quickly as possible.
While Pelech and Schaefer will not be a pair given that they both play the left side, there could be times during a game when Schaefer and Pelech are on the ice together. So, it's good for Schaefer to learn Pelech's tendencies and vice versa.
Building chemistry with forwards is ultra important, especially given the two-way style Schaefer plays.
Mathew Barzal made a comment about how he quickly built chemistry with defenseman Mike Reilly when it came to breakout passes.
So, for Schaefer, he's building chemistry with Horvat and, hopefully, Cizikas before it's time to head back to Long Island for training camp.
