Wayne Gretzky makes Hart Trophy case for NY Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer

When Wayne Gretzky talks about value in hockey, people tend to listen. So when the Hall of Famer suggested that Matthew Schaefer deserves to be mentioned in the Hart Trophy conversation, fans and pundits around the NHL are sure to take notice.

Speaking on the NHL on TNT pre-game panel before the New York Islanders faced the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night, Gretzky acknowledged that elite defensemen like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes still set the standard when it comes to the Norris Trophy. But he pivoted to a different question entirely: value.

“I’m sitting here thinking, my goodness, would this team be where they are right now without him?” Gretzky said of Schaefer. “What about winning the MVP of the league? That’s how good this kid has been.”

For a rookie defenseman to even be mentioned in the same breath as Hart Trophy candidates is extraordinary. Yet Schaefer’s impact on the Islanders has been undeniable. His skating, puck movement, and composure have transformed the team’s transition game. His presence hasn't just stabilized the Islanders' blueline; it's transformed the trajectory of an organization.

Gretzky’s argument was simple. The Hart Trophy is awarded to the player most valuable to his team—not necessarily the league’s flashiest scorer.

“Take a step back and say, would the Islanders be where they are today without Schaefer?” Gretzky said. “I don’t think they would be.”

That perspective is what makes Schaefer’s rookie season so remarkable. The Islanders’ resurgence has coincided with his emergence as arguably their most important player.

And when the greatest player in hockey history suggests a rookie belongs in the MVP conversation, it’s no longer just a hot take—it’s a statement about how special Matthew Schaefer’s first NHL season has truly been.

Schaefer is a mortal lock for the Calder Trophy, and maybe we should all start thinking about whether he will be a finalist for the biggest prize during the NHL Awards season as well.