ELMONT, NY — After watching countless hours of film on New York Islanders rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer during the roster construction process of Team Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympics team — a team Schaefer didn’t make — Thursday night marked the first time Pete DeBoer would see the 18-year-old in action.
Not only did Schaefer score his 23rd goal of the season to tie Brian Leech for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history, but we saw what we’ve seen all season long: his two-way game.
Islanders Matthew Schaefer Ties Brian Leech For Most Goals By Rookie Defenseman In NHL History
Islanders Matthew Schaefer Ties Brian Leech For Most Goals By Rookie Defenseman In NHL History Schaefer etches his name in NHL history, netting his 23rd goal to match a legendary rookie defenseman’s scoring record.
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He was getting back to break up players, he was saving pucks from going over the goal line, and in the final few minutes, with the Islanders holding a two-goal lead, he was blocking shots off the collarbone to help secure a critical two points.
“I told the coaching staff in there. They’ve seen him every night this year. So you probably get a little bit numb to it. But for me, watching him from the bench live like that, it was just, wow,” DeBoer said. “I mean, what a player. I watched him a lot on video as we were scouting for the Olympics.
“But to see him live like that at the age he’s at, and how dynamic he is both ends of the rink, defensively, particularly, I mean…I know the offensive stuff, but for a young player, how defensively aware he is and how much he works at the defensive piece of the game, too, he’s a really, really special player.”
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