EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders prospect Mathew Schaefer understands the pressure that's on him afer being selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
"Pressure is a privilege," Shaefer said following day one of rookie camp. "Not many kids get this opportunity. And you don't want to take it for granted or anything. You just want to go out there, work hard, put your head down, get your mind set, and get ready to work. So, just go out there and have fun."
Mathew Barzal's First Comments To Islanders No. 1 Overall Pick Matthew Schaefer
On Wednesday night, the <a href="http://thn.com/isles">New York Islanders</a> dropped episode one of "On The Island", their behind-the-scenes footage of the 2025 NHL Draft.
After a long summer of working with a nutritionist, hitting the gym, and skating with NHLers, he feels more ready than when he first hit the ice with the Islanders during development camp.
"I feel so much more ready," Schaefer said. "Obviously, when you're training in the summer with a lot of top-end guys like Nazim Kadri and Sean Monahan -- all those guys -- and you're growing up against them, it's pretty cool. You don't get caught puck watching. I mean, I did that one time with Kadri, so I got put on my butt there. But on and off the ice, you're just working hard each and every day. It's a daily routine. They've helped me so much along the way, and given me so much feedback on just everything about their experiences."
Schaefer is a sponge when it comes to learning ways to improve his game, which, of course, bodes well for his development.
"In the D-zone, like, no matter what -- all over the ice -- you got to be on your A-game all the time," Scahefer said. "Obviously, you're going to make mistakes, but you've got to limit those mistakes. And a lot of guys are in the right spot. So, it makes it a little bit easier in that sense. But I think just being able to move your feet and close down plays quickly [are the biggest things].
It's a new era on Long Island, and Schaefer is poised to play a major role in shaping the franchise's future.
"It's pretty cool," Schaefer said. "I mean, it says something when you know every guy on the team comes up to you and they ask if you want to go for dinner, you want to do this, you want to do that, and it's a really close [group] already. To have guys there for you whatever you need, whether it's Matt Martin, Anders Lee -- all those guys -- they're right behind you every step of the way."
The speed of the NHL game is hard to emulate. And for Schaefer, as someone who has only played juniors, being able to work in the summer with all the pros and get caught up to speed -- pun intended -- is integral in not just his development but potentially playing in the big leagues as soon as this fall.
It won't be an easy task, that's for sure.
"it's going to be a grind," Schaefer said. "It's always going to be a grind no matter what each and every day."
The pressure of playing in New York can sometimes be too much for an athlete. But the way Schaefer has conducted himself since the draft, he looks to be not only a player who can handle it, but who can thrive in this kind of environment.
Schaefer is trying to live in the moment -- not a month down the line when the season begins.
"Obviously, I'm taking it day by day," Schaefer said. "I'm not looking ahead. "I mean, obviously, I'm still focusing on today. It was a great session on the ice there. "A couple of other things we're going to do today. So it's day by day, and then keep working hard."
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