Matthew Schaefer on the precipice of breaking long-standing NY Islanders record

It’s no longer about if Matthew Schaefer will rewrite the record books — it’s about when.

The 18-year-old defenseman is on the precipice of a significant milestone in New York Islanders history, and he’s doing it in a way that feels almost routine. With 56 points, Schaefer has already passed Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for second-most by a rookie defenseman in franchise history and now sits tied with Stefan Persson for the all-time record.

One more point, and the record belongs to him alone.

It’s remarkable company — and even more remarkable when you consider how quickly Schaefer has gotten here. When Persson set the Islanders mark, it came after he played several years, professionally in Sweden, and was 23 when the season started. Among active NHL defensemen, only Lane Hutson (66) has recorded more points in a rookie season, underscoring just how rare this production truly is. Hutson was two years older than Schaefer, and had played two games the previous season when he hit that mark.

And Schaefer isn’t done.

His 22 goals already tie Barry Beck for the second-most by a rookie defenseman. The next one will tie New York Rangers legend Brian Leetch for the NHL record. That’s the kind of territory Schaefer is entering: not just Islanders greats, but all-time greats.

Beyond the points, his impact shows up everywhere. Schaefer has already broken Bryan Berard’s record for assists by a teenage defenseman in franchise history, while his 195 shots on goal highlight a level of confidence and offensive assertiveness rarely seen at his age. He’s on the verge of becoming the first rookie defenseman since Dion Phaneuf in 2005-06 to reach 200 shots — a mark even few Islanders defensemen have approached in the last two decades.

But what stands out most isn’t just the numbers.

It’s how normal it all feels.

Game after game, moment after moment, Schaefer continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible for a rookie and with each point, each shot, each goal, history inches closer.