Islanders Schaefer poised to prove doubters wrong

New York Islanders rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer has made a habit of proving everyone wrong this season. His debut campaign has well exceeded expectations.

Schaefer’s 13 goals and 30 points in 46 games are outstanding for any rookie, but even more so for a rookie defenseman. But the offensive numbers don’t tell nearly half of the story. Schaefer has gone from a sheltered 18-year-old playing with an older brother defense partner to holding down a spot on his own.

The Isles’ rising star has gone from about 17 minutes a night to over 28 a couple of games ago against the Nashville Predators. Schaefer hit the ice for 32 shifts in the Islanders' shootout loss.

Despite Schaefer’s evident impact on the club, a recent ranking in The Athletic isn’t entirely convinced that Schaefer is an elite player.

The ranking placed Schaefer at #4 in its list of top NHL players under 23. Now, the debate isn’t whether Schaefer should be #1 or not. The discussion here is that the piece refers to Schaefer as a “bubble elite NHL player.”

The piece named Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks as elite players. I’m not questioning that. But what I am questioning is why Schaefer isn’t in that tier.

All right, so the argument is that Schaefer only has 46 games of experience, while Bedard and Celebrini already have a couple of years under their belts. And that’s precisely the point. Neither Bedard nor Celebrini was this impactful out of the gate.

Bedard won the Calder in his rookie season. But his impact did little to help the Blackhawks turn their team around. Meanwhile, Celebrini didn’t even win the Calder in his first year.

At this point, voters would need a massive brain-freeze not to vote for Schaefer in the Calder race. Plus, Schaefer has been an electrifying player at 18. Bedard is 20, and Celebrini is 19. They’re kids for sure (oh, to be 18 again). But the fact is that Schaefer has been the spearhead in a remarkable Islanders turnaround.

That’s why Schaefer is an elite player. While he isn’t up there with Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, at least not yet, Schaefer’s influence on the Islanders is undeniable. He’s the player, not just the Islanders, but the NHL has been waiting for.

There’s one other thing. Some may claim that Schaefer is a flash in the pan. Naturally, his game is not perfect. He’s just entered the NHL and still needs to work on several aspects. But the typical red flags of first-round busts aren’t there. His work ethic is remarkable for such a young man. His composure is something I wish I had had at 18. Plus, Schaefer’s focus and dedication are something some veterans could envy.

That’s why it will only be a matter of time before pretty much everyone comes around and realizes that Schaefer is the real deal. He’s an elite player who will only get better with age.