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2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer scores first NHL goal
2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer scores first NHL goal
Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It didn’t take long for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick to score is first-career NHL goal.

New York Islanders’ defenseman Matthew Schaefer took a shot from the point that led to a scramble in front of the Washington Capitals’ net, with last summer’s top pick storming the crease and forcing a loose puck past Capitals’ goaltender Logan Thompson, giving Schaefer the first goal of his professional career.

MATTHEW SCHAEFER HAS HIS FIRST NHL GOAL‼️ #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/zwByXMLoP2

— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2025

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Schaefer is now the second-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a goal at 18 years, one month and six days, according to Sportsnet’s stat department.

#Isles Matthew Schaefer (18 years, 36 days)

2nd youngest defenceman in NHL history to score a goal pic.twitter.com/toV6ufV0yr

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 12, 2025

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Through two NHL games, Schaefer now has one goal and one assist for two points, averaging 21:40 of ice time.

Schaefer, a native of Hamilton, Ont., came out of junior with plenty of talent and hype, despite only playing 73 career regular-season games. In parts of two seasons, the 6-foot-2 defender posted 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points.

Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis wrote this about Schaefer last June:

“There isn’t a better, more deceptive skater on the blueline in this draft class, with his mobility being among the best we’ve seen in recent draft classes,” Ellis wrote. “Schaefer is as good of a puck distributor as you’ll find, too … that’s partly because he thinks that game is at such an advanced level at his age, often luring opponents in before pulling off a deceptive deke and getting the puck where it needs to be.”

The Islanders lost Saturday’s game against the Capitals 4-2, with Washington forward Aliaksei Protas finishing with a goal and an assist.