There should be no animosity towards Matthew Schaefer's big minutes from his NY Islanders teammates

Age has clearly been just a number for 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer through his first two NHL games. 

Recording his first NHL assist in his debut followed by his first goal in his home debut, the NY Islanders’ scintillating new defenseman’s most impressive stat has been his time on ice.

In just his second game, Schaefer played a staggering 26:08 - over seven minutes more than any other Islanders defenseman.

Schaefer is logging big minutes

Seeking a four-goal comeback in the third period, Patrick Roy turned to Schaefer down the stretch, as the youngster earned his minutes down the stretch.

“Outstanding,” Roy said of Schaefer’s play this morning. “I thought the battles were good. I thought he was picking and choosing the right time to be in the rush. In the O-zone, he was handling the puck very well, making the right decisions. And defensively, I thought he defended very well. So, I mean, it’s tempting to play him the minutes.”

On a team with plenty of veterans, some might believe there’s cause for concern with a young kid stepping in to play big minutes, meaning these veterans will see more time on the bench. But Roy knows his locker room and doesn’t see any animosity towards Schaefer’s use. 

“If you’re asking this question, it’s because you don’t know our team,” Roy says. “Our team is about team. No one will be jealous of a good hockey player. Actually, I think our vets have been so good to him… they’ve been taking care of him. They know how special he is. So when someone says things like this, they don’t know this dressing room.”

Schaefer takes the ice tomorrow against a Canadian team for the first time, meaning the media will be out in full force. He’ll look to continue his strong play and help the Isles earn their first win.