Seems Matthew Schaefer is a popular young man.
The New York Islanders rookie defenceman expects to have a lot of familiar faces in the stands for his first NHL homecoming on Tuesday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.
When asked on Monday by NHL.com's Stefen Rosner how many fans he expects to have at Scotiabank Arena, the Hamilton, Ont., native said: "Could be very close to 1,000."
Schaefer said his family has a box "for a lot of people that I'm super close with."
The first-overall pick in last year's NHL Draft, Schaefer is the front-runner for Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The 18-year-old has 20 goals and 28 assists and is a plus-14 in 67 games this season for an Islanders team in the third and final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Schaefer played his junior hockey with the Erie Otters in the OHL.
