Everyone in the NHL universe is singing Matthew Schaefer’s praises, and rightfully so.
Schaefer’s five points in five games with the New York Islanders, along with his 22:01 of average total ice time, are elite. But when you factor in the way he returned from playing in just 17 games in 2024-25, it’s safe to say hardly anyone saw this early-season production coming.
Elliotte Friedman weighed in on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday. When asked about which player has had the most impressive start to the 2025-26 season, he pointed to Schaefer. Friedman said, “He is not their best player, but he has made an immediate impact and he has breathed life into the franchise.”
That last part is huge. While there was talent on the New York Islanders even before Schaefer arrived, like goaltender Ilya Sorokin, defenseman Alexander Romanov, and forwards Simon Holmstrom and Mathew Barzal, nobody from that list has burst onto the scene like Schaefer in their age-18 season.
Matthew Schaefer will be the New York Islanders’ best player at some point
Friedman was right to exercise caution in naming Schaefer the best player on the team for the moment. Schaefer has only played in five NHL games, and he will inevitably have his ups and downs. That’s a trademark for a rookie defenseman, but he’s also giving fans the confidence to believe that he can easily overcome those inevitable downs.
Still, he had to acknowledge Schaefer over the likes of two other contenders: Seth Jarvis and Shane Pinto. Both players are off to magnificent starts, too, but they’re seasoned veterans who hockey fans expected to play at high-octane levels.
It’s different when you’re a rookie defenseman who wasn’t even a consensus No. 1 overall pick until the day of the 2025 NHL Draft, when the Isles traded away Noah Dobson. That notion alone justifies Friedman’s take that Schaefer has been the NHL’s most impressive player throughout the early stages of this long season.
Keep expectations tempered with Schaefer as the season progresses
While Schaefer has been outstanding so far, you still need to acknowledge he’s a rookie defenseman. Mistakes will be and already have been made, especially when you look into his more advanced statistics.
Schaefer is rolling with a 55.8 Corsi For percentage at even strength, and has been on the ice for six goals. That equates to an outstanding 12.5 shooting percentage. But defensively, he is and will remain a work in progress, clocking in with seven goals allowed at even strength and a meager 81.1 on-ice save percentage.
He will also have dips in offensive production, and won’t be bailing out what has so far been a so-so Islanders offense. But in the early going, he has done more than enough to carry the impact player label, and he will do so consistently as he grows more acclimated to the NHL.
