How Important Is The World Junior Summer Showcase For Matthew Schaefer?
NHL Network's Mike Rupp, Thomas Hickey, and E.J. Hradek weigh in.
It’s been a minute since New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer played in a competitive hockey game. His season came to a halt on Dec. 27 after just 19 total games — 17 with the Erie Otters and two with Team Canada — due to a broken clavicle sustained while representing his nation at the 2025 World Junior Championships.
He also had to deal with mono earlier in the season.
After being one of 44 players invited to represent Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, Schaefer is finally getting the chance to play in a real game again.
The question is: how much does this showcase mean for Schaefer as he prepares to make the Islanders out of training camp?
I spoke with NHL Network’s Mike Rupp, Thomas Hickey, and E.J. Hradek to get their thoughts.