NY Islanders' Matthew Schaefer ranked as one of the top defensemen in the league by NHL Network

Saying that it took only one season for Matthew Schaefer to have his name thrust into the upper echelon of top defenseman would be an exaggeration. The 18-year-old was the talk of the NHL after just a handful of games, en route to the Calder Trophy and multiple votes for the Hart Trophy as MVP of the league.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, Schaefer is regarded as one of the top defensemen in the league, as NHL Network ranks the NY Islanders’ blueliner as the seventh-best defenseman.

In order, the only players to finish higher on the list were Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Rasmus Dahlin, Miro Heiskanen, and Lane Hutson.

Tying Brian Leetch’s rookie goal-scoring record for a defenseman (23), and overtaking Phil Housley for most points by an 18-year-old defenseman (57), finishing with 59, Schaefer was the first player to be named unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy since Teemu Selanne did so in 1992-93.

Heading into his rookie campaign, there was hype surrounding Schaefer being the first overall pick. After going nearly 10 months without playing a game due to a broken collarbone, it was impossible to predict that his ceiling would be so high in his first season. But heading into 2026-27, teams around the league will be keyed in on the youngster, knowing his capabilities firsthand. 

The sky is the limit for Schaefer, and though it’s incredible to see his name ranked above some of the top defensemen in the league, there’s a strong possibility we could see him even higher on this list come next summer.

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