2025 No.1 pick Matthew Schaefer stirs up trade talks in New York!

On Tuesday night, 2025 No.1 pick Matthew Schaefer quickly realized he was not off-limits. Boston Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov roughed up the rookie defenseman when he cracked his stick on his beardless face. Schaefer’s teammates jumped in to his defense and all Hell broke loose, but an unfortunate truth emerged from it all.

Michael Traikos of the Hockey News explains it best. The New York Islanders need to acquire a true enforcer “to keep the flies off” Schaefer as the rookie needs to be better protected on the ice.

Sure, last night, when Schaefer received the cheap shot to the face by Zadorov, some of his teammates came to his defense, and the blue liner himself made sure to highlight that after the contest.

“We’re a family here… I know they always have my back, and they know I will always have their backs,” Schaefer told reporters post-game.

But their intervention is unfortunately not going to stop anyone else from going after Schaefer, especially after Zadorov laughed off the response from the Islanders and their fans after his attack on the 2025 No.1 pick.

Traikos writes: “One month in, it is clear that the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, who has five goals and 11 points in 13 games, is skating with a target on his back. It’s also clear that despite the Islanders’ best intentions, Schaefer keeps getting attacked.”

And he comes to one conclusion that will need to have general manager Matthieu Darche make a move:

“It’s one thing for the players to have his back. But it’s now time for GM Mathieu Darche to do the same.

Which raises the question: how much more can Schaefer take before the Islanders get an enforcer to protect their most valuable asset?”

At one point, Matt Martin, who happens to be Schaefer’s landlord this season, was the Islanders’ main enforcer. But he is not playing this season… and so unless the Isles bring Martin back, they probably need to seriously consider a trade for an enforcer who can act as Schaefer’s bodyguard.