The New York Islanders open their 2025-26 season on Thursday on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins. While they are not expected to make the postseason this year, there are still reasons for excitement. Forwards Maxim Shabanov and Calum Ritchie had solid preseasons before playing an NHL game. But one defenseman will have all the eyeballs on Thursday. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Matthew Schaefer will make his NHL debut for the Islanders.

“[General manager Mathieu] Darche confirms that Schaefer will play on Thursday vs. PIT,” Rosner reported.

The Islanders won the NHL Draft lottery and selected Schaefer first overall back in June. They traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens earlier that day, leaving a hole on the blue line. The 18-year-old Schaefer earne

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