NY Islanders Matthew Schaefer takes playful jab at Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist

Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer may only be 18, but he’s already proving he understands what it means to be a New York Islander. During an NHL on TNT appearance, the rookie defenseman wasted no time firing a playful jab at New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist before the first question was even asked.

“First off, it’s pretty tough to get a Ranger asking me the first question,” Schaefer said with a grin. “I'd rather the Long Island native ask me first, but I’ll let this one slide.” The remark drew laughs from the studio panel, which included Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, and Liam McHugh, and instantly earned Schaefer some extra points with Islanders fans.

From there, Schaefer shifted seamlessly from humor to humility. He reflected on his early NHL experiences facing some of the league’s biggest stars. “It’s pretty cool,” Schaefer said. “Obviously this is the league you want to be in as a kid, and as an 18-year-old, it’s pretty cool. Playing against Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Ovechkin your first couple games, it’s definitely pretty cool.”

The Long Island crowd, he added, has already left a big impression.

“Every time you play at home, it’s probably our best games for sure when the fans are behind us,” Schaefer said. “I didn’t know much about Long Island before getting drafted here and I love it. The arena is awesome. Everything has been just so, so high class.”

Even the off-ice perks haven’t gone unnoticed. “Chartered planes — you walk on, you get a little sushi action,” Schaefer said, laughing. “The Uncrustables are always the go-to for me.”

Still, amid the jokes, Schaefer’s heart showed through as he discussed Hockey Fights Cancer Month and his outreach work with children who’ve suffered loss. “It helps so much,” he said. “They look up to me in a way, which is pretty cool for me because I just see myself as an ordinary kid.”

The kid gets it in every way on and off the ice. It's great to see.