NY Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer achieves another first without even playing

Believe it or not, New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer accomplished another first on Monday — and he wasn’t even playing.

The NHL named the 18-year-old Islanders defenseman its First Star of the Week after a ridiculous three-game stretch that somehow managed to raise the bar again. Five points. Plus-5. Four goals to lead the league since play resumed. Just your average week for the kid rewriting the record book.

Let’s rewind.

Thursday in Montreal, Schaefer detonated the Bell Centre with two goals in 55 seconds to erase a multi-goal deficit and spark a 4-3 overtime win over the Canadiens. Goals No. 17 and 18 didn’t just change that game — they tied and passed Phil Housley for the most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history and moved him past Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history.

Then, because apparently that wasn’t enough, he closed the week with two goals and an assist in a 5-4 win over the Panthers. Goal No. 20 made him the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark and just the fourth rookie blueliner ever to do it. He also became the first rookie defenseman in league history to be the first player from his draft class to hit 20 goals.

Through 61 games, the 2025 first-overall pick has 44 points (20-24—44), leads all rookies in goals, power-play goals, power-play points, and ice time (24:07), and is already in conversations normally reserved for franchise legends.

He’s now the first Islanders rookie defenseman ever to earn NHL Star of the Week honors, joining teammates Ilya Sorokin and Bo Horvat as Islanders recognized this season.

The kid isn’t just rising.

He’s taking the league with him.