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Islanders Schaefer gets unanimous pick in recent poll

New York Islanders Matthew Schaefer was a slam-dunk pick in a recent poll, but the pressure will be on to prove he's no flash in the pan.
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Apr 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) goes out onto the ice for the warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) goes out onto the ice for the warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | James Guillory-Imagn Images

Matthew Schaefer’s rookie season was one for the ages. He easily had the best first-year performance for any New York Islanders blueliner. He also showed that he could compete with the best of them, especially in an unsheltered role during the second half of the season.

Schaefer eventually tied Brian Leetch for most goals by a rookie blueliner with 23. While it was too bad that he couldn’t break the mark, it was still highly impressive.

That situation, along with Schaefer’s overall impact on the Islanders and the NHL this season, led the staff at The Athletic to pick him as the unanimous winner of the 2026 Calder Trophy. Every one of the 30 staff members who voted in the poll picked Schaefer to take home the Calder as Rookie of the Year.

When looking at the on-ice product, it’s easy to see why. Schaefer went from needing a babysitter at the beginning of the season to playing in pretty much every situation.

That reality prompted Shayna Goldman to declare Schaefer as a worthy candidate for the Islanders’ MVP this year.

“He set the bar astronomically high this year. You could really flip a coin between Matthew Schaefer and Sorokin as the Isles’ MVPs this year.”

Indeed, Schaefer set the bar high. In fact, the next time a defenseman goes first overall, he will draw comparisons to Schaefer. Just about every rookie defenseman will have to stack up against Schaefer’s 2025-26 season.

While it’s hard to dismiss Ilya Sorokin’s performance this year, it’s pretty clear that Schaefer had the most impact on the team this season. Yes, Sorokin kept the Isles in a playoff spot for much of the season. However, it’s doubtful that the Islanders would have come so close to a playoff spot this season.

And no, we can’t pin the blame on Schaefer for the late-season collapse. That’s a collective responsibility. Everyone on the club deserves their share of the blame.

The question that remains is whether Schaefer can reprise his fantastic season in 2026-27. If he hits a sophomore slump, questions may emerge about how good he really is.

So, here’s hoping Schaefer has a rocking second season, dispelling any questions about his potential.

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