The Islanders took a chance on a defense-minded defenseman in the sixth round in 2023, drafting Zach Schulz from the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). In his first two seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, he has shown exactly what the Islanders expected from him. He hasn’t scored many goals, and he doesn’t draw fans out of their seats the way his teammate and fellow Islanders’ draft pick Quinn Finley might, but he has been an essential piece of the Badgers’ defense. His progression from his freshman to his sophomore season has shown steady growth. In 28 games last season, Schulz increased his offensive output from six total points in 2023-24 to 11 points in 2024-25. Though you can expect that Schulz will not provide considerable numbers in any league, he does offer some decent defensive upside for the Islanders as a potential bottom-pair player or seventh defenseman.