Matthew Schaefer Toon

Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders

The Islanders won the 2025 draft lottery with 3.5 percent odds. That’s not a front office move. That’s a sign. And the player waiting at number one overall was an 18-year-old defenseman who skates like he’s late for something important and reads the ice like he’s already seen the whole movie.

This Matthew Schaefer cartoon captures him in full celebration, fist up, mouth open, the way he looks when he’s just scored and the building hasn’t finished reacting yet. That’s the thing about Schaefer as a subject. He’s a defenseman who controls the game from the back end, but he plays with a forward’s urgency, and when he scores, he lets you know about it. The emotion is immediate and completely genuine. That kind of moment is exactly what you draw.

The illustration is done in a bold, graphic style with clean lines and the Islanders blue and orange exactly where they belong. Number 48. The future of Long Island hockey, celebrating like he’s done this before, because at this point, he has.

Schaefer broke Denis Potvin’s record for most goals by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history. Let that sit for a second. Potvin. The guy has a bridge named after him. Schaefer is 18. He came into this league and immediately started rewriting a franchise record book that goes back to the dynasty years, which is either inspiring or deeply humbling depending on how old you are.

A good cartoon finds what makes someone immediately recognizable and commits to it. With Schaefer, it’s the combination of skill and emotion. He plays like he genuinely loves it, and when something good happens, his face says so. That translates.

This is part of an ongoing series of New York sports cartoons and illustrations. Schaefer just gave Long Island a very good reason to make it bigger.

If you’re an Islanders fan, a hockey art collector, or someone who just appreciates watching an 18-year-old make everyone else on the ice look slightly confused, this one’s for you.