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The New York Islanders still have roster adjustments to make before they can elevate their on-ice performance, but finding a franchise cornerstone is no longer an issue. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the top selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, has already filled that role after a historic rookie campaign in which he was the unanimous Calder Trophy winner.
Now in his second year, observers wondered how Schaefer would follow up such a debut. Through 12 games, he has managed to raise his production even further, contributing in every aspect of the game and leading the Islanders on a nightly basis.
Questions have arisen about the workload head coach Peter DeBoer has placed on Schaefer. Since Alexander Romanov suffered an ACL tear, Schaefer's ice time has surged; he logged 32:16 against the Nashville Predators, the most in a single game of his career.
Career-High Minutes Against Predators
That total included five minutes of overtime, as Schaefer remained on the ice for the entire extra period before the shootout. A five-minute shift is virtually unheard of, but Schaefer is such an impactful player that DeBoer relied on him to get the job done despite likely fatigue.
If Schaefer was tired, he did not show it. With less than a minute left in overtime, he displayed his speed to prevent the Predators from getting a clean look at Semyon Varlamov in transition, helping to force a shootout. That type of play does not appear in the box score but illustrates his importance to the team's success. He is a true two-way difference maker whom DeBoer trusts in any situation.
Schaefer did appear on the scoresheet, recording an assist on Bo Horvat's sixth goal of the season that gave the Islanders a 3-0 lead in the second period. It was his ninth assist of the season, giving him 11 total points through 12 games. He also added two shots on goal, one hit, and two blocks, doing everything he could to help Varlamov earn his first victory in nearly two years.
Schaefer is producing at an elite level, recording a point in five straight games, which is the second-longest streak of his career. However, time will tell if this kind of workload is sustainable. At 19 years old, youth is certainly still on his side. It seems possible to sustain for now, but New York must find ways to conserve him as the season progresses.