A former player’s summer visits to teammates and their families took an unexpected turn as a close bond formed with the newly named captain of a professional hockey team. The relationship went beyond typical team camaraderie, raising questions about the nature of their growing friendship. Details about the interactions and how they unfolded remain under scrutiny as the team and organization address the situation. The story sheds light on the personal dynamics within a professional sports environment.

Over the course of that summer, Schaefer started visiting teammates and their families, including Bo Horvat, who was named Islanders captain Sept. 14. But a connection quickly developed between ...