If there was ever any doubt about how quickly New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer has shaken the NHL, the NHL on TNT crew put it to rest Tuesday night. In a segment dedicated entirely to the Islanders’ 18-year-old phenom, the panel spoke about him the way you speak about players who fundamentally alter the trajectory of a franchise.
Right off the top, TNT highlighted the staggering numbers: through his first 30 games, only Phil Housley had more points as an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. Schaefer was sitting ahead of Hall of Famers like Ray Bourque.