Matthew Schaefers NHL dream is just waiting on the Islanders

LOS ANGELES — Nothing is final until it’s final, and no one, least of all Matthew Schaefer, is acting otherwise. But let’s put it this way: Through a media session that lasted nearly 17 minutes Thursday morning on a pool deck in downtown Los Angeles, Schaefer was asked double-digit questions about going No.1 and playing for the Islanders.

The Sharks, who pick second, weren’t mentioned. So you might say there’s a widespread expectation for how things will play out at the Peacock Theater on Friday, the same way there’s a widespread expectation this decentralized draft format will be one-and-done. “It’ll mean everything,” Schaefer said of how he expects to feel upon hearing his name called Friday.“It’s every kid’s dream, especially mine.

You work so hard up to this point and to hear it, it’s obviously really cool, but the work just starts now.” Schaefer, a wiry 17-year-old defenseman standing 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, heads into the draft as the consensus top prospect, having edged out center Michael Misa through force of personality and a tour de force of an injury-shortened season. Schaefer played just 17 games with the OHL’s Erie Otters last season and two more with Team Canada at the World Juniors, where his season ended thanks to a broken clavicle.Doesn’t matter.

He spent those games dominating and spent his time off the ice showing qualities that make people think he’ll be a future NHL captain, in particular standing up to immense adversity after his mother and billet mom died within two months of each other last year. It has the league thinking he’ll be the newest member of the Islanders by 7:20 or so Friday evening. “Obviously, I wish she could be there.I think that’s probably the biggest thing I’ll be thinking about when I hear my name called,” Schaefer said.

“But I know she’ll be smiling down.I know she’s gonna be with me in spirit.

I know my dad and brother will probably have some tears.I think I�...