Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 draft pick, shows his skills on first day of rookie camp

Matthew Schaefer stood out during summer prospect development camp, and the defenseman’s elite skills again were readily evident as the Islanders opened rookie camp on Thursday. But the No. 1 overall pick will have to prove his talent matches with NHL veterans to make the opening-night roster.

His offseason work will help. Schaefer skated this summer in Toronto with a group that includes the Flames’ Nazem Kadri, the Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan, the Flyers’ Jamie Drysdale and the Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton.

“I feel so much more ready,” Schaefer said on Thursday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. “When you’re training in the summer with a lot of top-end guys like Nazem Kadri and Sean Monahan and you’re going up against them, it’s pretty cool. You don’t want to get caught puck-watching. I did that once with Kadri. I got put on my butt. They’ve helped me so much along the way and gave me so much feedback about their experiences.”

The 6-2, 186-pound Schaefer, who turned 18 this past Friday, repeatedly has said he believes he can make the NHL roster out of training camp. Management will give him every opportunity to earn a spot through the six-game preseason.

The first day on ice for the main training camp is next Thursday, and the regular season opens on Oct. 9 in Pittsburgh.

Schaefer already has received training camp advice from Islanders teammates and personnel.

“It’s going to be a grind,” he said. “Each and every day, on and off the ice. When you’re going up against guys like that, Bo Horvat, Anders Lee, all those guys, they want to beat you every time and you want to stop them every time. They said just enjoy it, too. You’re never going to go straight. You’re always going to go up and down.”

Schaefer, with his magnetic personality, is poised to become the face of the revamped organization, now run by general manager/executive vice president Mathieu Darche after previous boss Lou Lamoriello was let go after seven seasons.

That includes more fan access to the players and events. For instance, fans will be in the stands for Friday’s session of rookie camp.

Defenseman Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow said he received positive feedback this summer about the organization’s direction from fans and acquaintances on Long Island, including the excitement surrounding Schaefer.

“Being a local kid, a lot of people ask you about the new changes, and it’s exciting,” Warren said. “A lot of people are really tuned in to what’s going on here. Kind of like a new era here. Obviously, Lou is such a Hall of Famer. But I think it’s building more of a closeness with the community now. It’s cool to be able to be with the fans a lot and see the impact it’s making.”

Notes & quotes: There are 26 players participating in rookie camp, including Russian free agent Maxim Shabanov, 24, who has a strong chance to be a top-six forward for the Islanders after notching 23 goals and 44 assists in the KHL last season. His skating speed was evident during drills as he was able to accelerate past defensemen. “I skated with him a little bit in the summer. He’s a skilled player,” Warren said. “He’s got all the skills in the toolbox.” . . . Calum Ritchie, acquired from the Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade on March 6, understands the expectations. “I don’t think about that too much, but Brock is like a legend here,” Ritchie said. “To be traded for him is big shoes to fill, so I’m going to work my hardest every day to try and fill that.” . . . Former Islander Josh Bailey was part of the on-ice coaching staff.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.