Is NY Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer even better than advertised?

There’s usually a quiet curiosity when a first-round pick steps onto NHL ice for the first time — that mix of anticipation and caution that comes with an 18-year-old defenseman learning to handle the speed and structure of the league. But when Matthew Schaefer made his debut for the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh, curiosity quickly turned into conviction. The kid wasn’t just ready — he looked like he belonged.

At 18 years and 34 days old, Schaefer didn’t just make history by becoming the youngest defenseman in NHL history to record a point in his debut — he did it by playing with a calmness and confidence rarely seen from players his age. His assist on Jonathan Drouin’s second-period goal was the kind of poised, calculated play that felt like more than just a milestone. It was a statement.

That makes his journey to this point even more remarkable. After suffering a broken collarbone last season with the Erie Otters, Schaefer appeared in only 17 OHL games. The injury raised fair questions about how much his development might be delayed. Some around the league wondered whether he might benefit from another year in junior or even a stint in the NCAA before taking a professional leap. That all seems crazy now.

“I thought he was really good,” head coach Patrick Roy said after the game. “He was confident, throwing pucks at the net, and he seemed very comfortable out there.” Roy trusted the rookie enough to play him late, including during the Islanders’ six-on-five push — a telling show of faith from a coach who values reliability above all.

Schaefer became the ninth defenseman in Islanders history to record a point in his debut, and the first since Noah Dobson in 2019. But beyond the record books, it was his effortless composure and confidence that stole the spotlight — the kind of performance that makes you wonder if the Islanders’ first-rounder isn’t just ready for the NHL, but already ahead of schedule.