Matthew Schaefer is turning Gavin McKenna into a luxury, not a need

Matthew Schaefer is reminding everybody why he was more than worthy of the top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Right now, he looks like the best first-overall pick over the past five seasons, with Owen Power, Juraj Slafkovsky, Connor Bedard, and Macklin Celebrini all fighting for second place.

Through the Islanders' first five games, Schaefer is second on the team in points, with five, and a goal to go with it. It's a record-setting pace for the Isles' rookie, and he's reminding every fan on Long Island why the Isles don't need to be in the fight for Gavin McKenna.

Sure, adding McKenna to the lineup would help turn the Islanders around faster, but Schaefer is transforming into the type of player who will attract free agents and other talent looking for a place to play. That's something you haven't seen from Power, Bedard, or Celebrini, while Slafkovsky joined a team that had brewing stars.

Schaefer is showing the potential to be the next Cale Makar, and that means he could be turning young forwards into stars. Calum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman are two who come to mind. And if they maximize their potential while Schaefer is dishing them the puck, the Isles will have a big three that will give opponents headaches for the next decade.

Matthew Schaefer is giving Islanders fans reassurance in his rookie season

It's not like Schaefer was a surefire generational talent coming into the 2025 NHL Draft. He missed most of the 2024-25 season due to injury, and he didn't get anywhere near the same amount of coverage as Connor Bedard in 2023 and Macklin Celebrini in 2024.

Bedard and Celebrini were consensus top picks, and everyone knew where they were going the moment their respective draft lotteries ended. But Schaefer had to contend with Michael Misa who, ironically, is now Celebrini's teammate in San Jose.

Likewise, whichever team earns the top pick in the 2026 draft will take McKenna, barring some unforeseen meltdown that would tank his draft stock. But, with his production still clocking in at a point per game, chances are, nobody is passing McKenna.

Things will get more difficult for Schaefer as opponents figure out his, and the Islanders', game. That said, it's still far-fetched to think he will end the season with 82 points, assuming he stays healthy enough to play in all 82 contests.

But it's getting more realistic to believe Schaefer can end the year with 60-plus points, which will all but guarantee that he'll win the Calder Trophy at the end of the season. Defensemen carry a ton of responsibilities, and to carry the physical and mental demands of the NHL the way Schaefer has, the award will be well-deserved if he keeps it up.