Matthew Schaefer injury update: Islanders' potential No. 1 pick gives major update that changes everything

The New York Islanders landed an unexpected windfall when they secured the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Now, their excitement is set to soar even higher with promising news about their likely top selection—elite defenseman Matthew Schaefer.Matthew Schaefer, who plays for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), was sidelined for months due to a broken clavicle he suffered while representing Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. The injury forced him to miss 46 regular season games, as well as nine playoff matchups—a potentially worrying situation for any team eyeing him as a franchise cornerstone.But ahead of the NHL Draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28, the 17-year-old blue-liner delivered some welcome news: he’s fully recovered.“I’m healed, I’m working out, I’m on the ice, so everything’s amazing, which is good,” Schaefer told NHL.com. “I’ve been definitely dying to come back. During the OHL playoffs, I started skating again and was doing morning skates, and it was so good to just get back on the ice with the guys. I’m clear [to play] now and everything’s feeling good.”This update is a massive relief for the Islanders, who are poised to make the 6’1” defenseman the No. 1 overall pick. Known for his smooth skating, high hockey IQ, and two-way dominance, Schaefer posted an impressive 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in just 17 games before his injury. Despite not returning to playoff action, he had already resumed morning skates and was itching to contribute.“I was hoping,” Schaefer said of potentially returning during Erie’s playoff run. “If it was my decision, I would have been in Game 1 of the playoffs, but my shoulder wasn’t ready, so it wouldn’t have been smart. If the doctors said I was able to, I would have been right in there.”Also Read: “Disgusting and pathetic”: Florida Panthers fans furious after Evan Rodrigues injury as Maple Leafs face accusations of dirty playWith his clean bill of health and a sky-high ceiling, Schaefer is back in focus as a generational talent—offering the Islanders a chance to reshape their future around a blueline cornerstone.