Stanley Cup winner with the NY Islanders, Lorne Henning, compares Matthew Schaefer to an all-time great

After just one season of professional hockey experience, Matthew Schaefer has earned comparisons to some of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game. It's one thing to hear it from talking heads on TV and those behind computer screens, but it's another to hear it from those who played on the ice.

Drafted 17th overall by the NY Islanders in 1972, Lorne Henning spent all eight seasons of his career with the Islanders, helping the organization to its first two Stanley Cup triumphs in 1980 and 1981 - his final two seasons in the NHL.

Currently working in the Pro Scouting Department for the Seattle Kraken, Henning has seen his share of players come through the league, and like everybody else, he's been extremely impressed by what Schaefer has accomplished at such a young age.

"He is phenomenal," Henning said on the Locked on Islanders podcast. "I mean, (he) reminds me a lot of Paul Coffey back in the day, what he was like, like the way you can skate and create opportunities. And, you know, I've seen his interviews, like, he's got a great personality, upbeat, positive. Just a really, really good person. They're obviously lucky to have him."

Coffey, who won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, finished his career with 1,531 points - second all-time among all defensemen. In his rookie season, Coffey scored nine times, adding 23 assists. Though it's only one season, Schaefer finished this season with 23 goals and 36 assists.

The Islanders' young phenom has a long way to go before reaching Coffey's status in the league, but a player like Henning, who went to battle against Coffey, feels Schaefer has the potential to pave a similar career.

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