Matthew Schaefer can immediately become a top-pair defenseman for the NY Islanders

After being taken first overall by the NY Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, a lot rests on the shoulders of Matthew Schaefer. Turning 18 years old less than three weeks ago, the young defenseman has shown maturity off the ice at an unprecedented level. But on the ice, playing in the NHL is a step up from anything he's seen before.

Making his preseason debut on Sunday, Schaefer showed moments where some rust had to be shaken off, but overall, his performance was wildly impressive. Scahefer didn't look out of place in the slightest, displaying his elite skating and willingness to get involved offensively immediately.

Scahefer may earn top-pair minutes

So now begs the question, can Schaefer become a top-pairing defenseman for the Islanders straight away?

The question was raised after Sunday's game when Cam Robinson, Content Director and Director of Film Scouting for Elite Prospects, posted on X that he received a message from a team-side source, stating: "Watching Matthew Schaefer's preseason debut. He might be a top pair guy right out of the box."

While the Islanders have high hopes for the league's top prospect, the reins should be pulled in a bit.

The first order of business for Schaefer is to make the team. All signs point to him receiving a nine-game look before Mathieu Darche determines if he'll spend the season on Long Island or return to the Erie Otters of the OHL.

But on the other hand, Schaefer's performance was stellar, and the Islanders' lack of offensive-defensemen does bode well for him to log massive minutes in his rookie season.

As history has proven, young defensemen typically take longer to develop in the NHL than forwards. Since the league's inaugural season, only 22 players aged 18 or 19 have won the Calder Trophy, with only five being defensemen. However, two of those defensemen won the award while playing for the Islanders in Denis Potvin and Bryan Berard.

Only time will tell if Schaefer can live up to the hype immediately, but it's terrific for the Islanders that this is even a conversation.