NY Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer may be the best player in the NHL to start a franchise with

The NHL has become littered with young players making an impact early in their careers, none more so than Matthew Schaefer along the blue line. With stars like Schaefer, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard, along with those who have been around a bit longer, like Connor McDavid and Cale Makar, who would be the best player to begin a franchise with?

At only 18 years old, Schaefer was one of the most electric players we’ve seen in a rookie season. The first overall pick by the NY Islanders at the 2026 NHL Draft, Schaefer was setting records what seemed like every night on the road to the Calder Trophy. 

According to Mike Johnson of the NHL Network, the analyst would take only one player in the NHL to start a franchise with over Schaefer, and that is Celebrini.

“He’s 18! If I’m starting a franchise, I’m going to have him for 20 years,” Johnson said. "Two decades. Yes, he's 18, but he's so mature, and he's so charismatic. He's a force that you are drawn to. He is a light that you are drawn to... He's changed that franchise already. The proof is in the pudding. He's already done it, and he's only going to get better... He's incredible as is, and he's only going to get better, which is terrifying for the rest of the league."

Rounding out Johnson's top-5 are Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, and Quinn Hughes.

Schaefer has set a standard for himself after one season. Being just 19 years old for the 2026-27 season, he'll have a target on his back, but after seeing him play for 82 games, he seems like the type of player who can handle the pressure.

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