New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer played in his first game since sustaining a broken collarbone seven months ago.
The 17-year-old took part in Team Canada's inter-squad scrimmage at the 2025 World Junior Championships, playing for Canada Red. The game went to a shootout, with Schaefer and his Red squad falling 4-3.
While Schaefer did not record any points, missing his shootout attempt, FloHockey prospect analyst Chris Peters was encouraged from what he saw from the second-youngest player at the showcase:
At 5-on-5, Schaefer lined up alongside Pittsburgh Penguins No. 44 pick in 2024 Harrison Brunicke as their top defense pairing while also quarterbacking the top power-play unit.
While Schaefer's play at this tournament won't directly affect his abily to make the Islanders out of training camp, it will serve as a good measuring stick for where he's at, especially since he hadn't played in quite some time, outside of the Blue & White Scrimmage during development camp.
How Important Is The World Junior Summer Showcase For Matthew Schaefer?
NHL Network's Mike Rupp, Thomas Hickey, and E.J. Hradek weigh in.
Canada's next game, which won't be an inter-squad matchup, will be tonight at 4:30 PM against Team Finland.
Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images