Matthew Schaefer is playing like a Norris defenseman already

The best defensemen in the NHL share one undeniable trait that doesn't show up in their goals and assists, the number of times they stop the opponent's rush at the blue line, or the number of times they lay out one of the other team's forwards. Every defenseman is different, and that is what makes Norris Trophy races interesting. However, every Norris-contending blueliner, like Matthew Schaefer, has one thing in common:

The best blueliners leave fans saying, "Does this guy ever come off the ice?" and that is exactly the reaction I am starting to have when watching Schaefer. A good defenseman dominates the television screen or the in-person viewing experience in every game you watch. Whether it's offensive zone faceoffs, defensive zone faceoffs, special teams, or lining up with his usual partner or the third-pair guy, Schaefer never seems to change up.

Of course, that isn't entirely true, since the 19-year-old only averages 25:26 per game. "Only" is relative, as it is still a considerable amount. Still, it pales in comparison to defenders like Zach Werenski (29:34) and Quinn Hughes (26:41). Cale Makar is usually another minutes-eater, but the Avalanche have scaled him back to 21:29 this year to keep him fresh.

The main thing holding Schaefer back is his shorthanded time, as he only really gets a chance to play at the tail end of a kill when there is a late faceoff, and DeBoer wants him to play the five-on-five shift. The same goes for Quinn Hughes: a time-on-ice goal that Schaefer could aspire to if he doesn't intend to kill penalties, with the Werenski benchmark as the high end if he does become a shorthanded option.

Matthew Schaefer's on-ice dominance makes him a difference maker

If you were standing behind the Islanders' bench, it'd be hard not to give Schaefer the 25+ minutes he receives every night, and you may even try to get him more. DeBoer is an experienced coach and realizes you can't shoulder a teenager with Werenski-type minutes, but if he continues dominating when he is out there, it'd be hard not to find an extra minute or two.

The eye test shows Schaefer is only getting more and more comfortable, but his advanced statistics are also a coach's dream. He owns 54.9% xGF%, 58.4% SF%, and is creating 3.52 xGF/60. All the metrics would put him near the top of the league, and the more he plays, the more he'll create.

Schaefer won the Calder Trophy unanimously last season and received eight top-five votes for the Norris Trophy. Can he jump from 12th in voting to first and win it in his sophomore season?

It's unlikely that the voters will give him that honor so quickly. However, it shouldn't surprise anyone if he is at least top-five, which means that with natural progression, his 20-year-old season could be his time to break into the top-three.

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