NY Islanders' defenseman Matthew Schaefer believes Peter DeBoer will help improve his game on the defensive end

After an electric rookie season, which saw him become the first unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy since 1992, Matthew Schaefer is preparing for his second season, where he hopes to take another leap into the upper echelon of NHL defensemen.

While the NY Islanders missed out on the postseason for the second straight season, the addition of Peter DeBoer behind the bench could give them the jolt needed to make it back to the playoffs. Schaefer, who turns 19 just before the start of the season, believes playing under DeBoer could help him unlock his potential even further and bring the Islanders closer to a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1983.

DeBoer can bring Schaefer to a new level

“He has the same mentality that we do, and I really think he’s going to help me improve my game,” Schaefer said, according to Tucker Terranova of NHL.com/Islanders. “The one thing he’s missing is a Cup, and we want to do that here.” 

While goal scoring has been problematic for the Islanders for years, last season, the defense struggled mightily, and if not for the heroics of Ilya Sorokin, the season could have been much worse. DeBoer, known for his attention to detail in the defensive end, could assist in making Schaefer more complete in his own zone.

“I think my defensive game can always get better and there are always things to improve on,” Schaefer said. “Whether it’s walking the line or just being better defensively, I’m always looking to improve.”

It's scary to think about how much better Schaefer can get after his rookie season. The sky is the limit for this kid, and DeBoer could turn him into the total package.

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