There was a debate for a little bit as to who the New York Islanders should select No. 1 overall at the 2025 NHL Draft after the club won its first draft lottery since 2009.

But, since the draft combine, 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer has emerged as the clear-cut favorite. On Monday, TSN's Bob Mackenzie released his final draft rankings, citing that Schaefer is the unanimous No. 1 selection.

"The true testament to defenceman Matthew Schaefer’s prodigious talent and boundless potential as the undisputed No. 1 prospect in the NHL’s Class of 2025 can be found in the numbers. Not the goals or assists or points or penalty minutes or plus-minus or any analytics. Just look at his games played this season: 17 in the regular season for the OHL’s Erie Otters; two in the inaugural CHL-U.S. NTDP Prospects Challenge; and two for Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Twenty-one games in all. If, as expected, Schaefer is taken No. 1 overall by the New York Islanders at the NHL draft June 28 in Los Angeles, it will be unprecedented. That is, no No. 1 pick will have ever played so few games in his draft year as Schaefer."

Mackenzie also projects that Long Island native James Hagens, who was the consesus No. 1 pick for a few years before falling a bit, will fall to the Boston Bruins at No. 7.

With 'prodigious talent and boundless potential,' Matthew Schaefer tops McKenzie's NHL Draft Ranking | TSNIf, as expected, Matthew Schaefer is taken No. 1 overall by the Islanders, it will be unprecedented. That is, no No. 1 pick will have ever played so few games in his draft year as Schaefer.

The 2025 NHL Draft begins at 7 PM ET on Friday. 

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PHTO: GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK