NHL News: Mathew Barzal turns heads with bold statement about Matthew Schaeffer ahead of upcoming Islanders season

Building a competitive roster for a new NHL season often comes down, in some ways, to luck. In the case of the New York Islanders, they managed to make the most of the draft lottery, securing the rights to Matthew Schaeffer—a player who brings a wave of excitement to the franchise, especially to Mathew Barzal.

The talented center under Patrick Roy knows the team will need to improve drastically on last season’s performance, and part of that new process may begin to take shape through the latest additions to the roster.

In a recent conversation with the media, Barzal revealed a discussion he had with Casey Cizikas about how much of an advantage it was to pick earlier than most teams in the draft—an opportunity that ultimately allowed them to land Schaeffer.

“Immediately when we won the lottery, Zeeker called me and we were just like, ‘This changes the entire direction of our franchise, man,’” he said on The ForePlay Pod. “Just to get the best player, especially in a draft where you’re getting a stud.

Bridgeport coach Rocky Thompson and Matthew Schaeffer #71 take part in practice during the New York Islanders 2025 Development Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center at Eisenhower Park on June 30, 2025 in East Meadow, New York.

“Who knows if [Schaefer] is generational or not? I obviously hope he is — like, the way he skates, he could be.”

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Eyes on what’s next

Last NHL season for Patrick Roy’s squad, far from the top spots in the Metropolitan Division, left a bittersweet feeling around the Islanders’ facilities. A return to contention has become imperative—making the next steps all the more crucial.

From here on out, it’s about reshuffling the deck and starting fresh—building a roster fit for the challenge and ready to compete in the Eastern Conference from day one.

Barzal knows he’ll have to shoulder the load early in the season, hoping the pieces gradually fall into place so the Islanders can become a tough team to face moving forward.