The NHL.com Fantasy Staff, using NHL EDGE’s advanced puck and player-tracking technology, has taken a deep-dive look into the early prowess of New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer — and the results confirm what Isles fans are already seeing with their own eyes: the 18-year-old is making an immediate impact on par with some of the best in the game.
The stats go well beyond the fact that the the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft has become the youngest defenseman in League history to record a point in his debut (18 years, 34 days) and just the third 18-year-old blueliner to register points in each of his first three games, joining Phil Housley (1982-83) and Jakob Chychrun (2016-17).