New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer knows exactly what Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna is about to experience. Both were selected first overall a year apart — Schaefer by the Islanders in 2025 and McKenna by the Leafs this past June and the Calder Trophy winner spent a few minutes this week sharing perspective with the kid he grew up playing against.

Speaking to television reporters, including TSN’s Mark Masters, at the Smilezone Celebrity Golf Tournament in Brampton on Monday, Schaefer kept the message simple and personal.

“Yeah, I mean, just enjoy it,” Schaefer said. “Obviously, he’s in Toronto, and me growing up in Toronto, obviously Toronto’s known for its hockey and stuff just growing up. Toronto’s always the hot spot for tournaments and things like that. But especially hockey. So it’s going to be awesome for him.

“Obviously, he’s a great player. I’ve got to grow up playing with him. But at the end of the day, he’s a great player. He’s going to do great things. So he’s going to be awesome.”

Leafs fans would take that projection in a heartbeat. Schaefer’s first NHL season produced the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie with 23 goals and 36 assists in 82 games. If McKenna can deliver anything close to that kind of immediate impact on a team still searching for consistent secondary scoring, the pressure that comes with being the No. 1 pick in a hockey-mad market will feel a lot more manageable.

Schaefer was careful not to overpromise on the exact role McKenna will carve out. The Islanders blueliner noted the differences in position and development paths, but the core principle remained the same.

“At the end of the day, I think if your teammates and coaches and stuff like that, if they help develop you well and they bring you up,” Schaefer said. “And for me, I started off on the third line, and then I worked my way up, and we’re not the same, obviously, I’m defense, he’s forward. But I think if you can just get that confidence early and just run with it, then you’ll do good.”

The two already had a chance to talk shop at the draft. Schaefer said the consensus around McKenna going first overall felt inevitable, and his advice that night was straightforward.

“I said enjoy it. Obviously, just being at the draft, don’t get too far ahead of yourself. But at the end of the day, just enjoy it. Enjoy it with your family. You know, thank them for everything. But, you know, just keep working.”

The early-season schedule will give both players a quick measuring stick. Schaefer’ Islanders open the year against the Leafs in Toronto, heir first game and Toronto’s second  before meeting again roughly two weeks later.

“It’s an early game in Toronto for me,” he said. “So hopefully a lot of family and stuff like that can come. … It’ll be awesome. It’ll be fun.”

For a Leafs looking to balance a retool following missing the postseason last year, McKenna represents the latest high-upside piece. 

By all accounts, McKenna has looked ready for the moment. But there’s still a long wait to go before it all goes down.

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