The buzz around Long Island just keeps getting louder, and a big reason for that is rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
The New York Islanders’ blue-line phenom is turning heads across the league, helping push his team into third place in the Metropolitan Division and firmly into contender status. And now, even a Hall of Famer is weighing in on his late-season surge.
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Draws Honest Assessment
Schaefer added another statement performance Sunday night, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist in the Islanders’ thrilling 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers. With that two-goal effort, he became the first rookie this season to reach the 20-goal mark.
A day later, he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after leading all players with four goals. He totaled 5 points in three games, powering New York to a perfect 3-0-0 stretch, all while the Islanders trailed 2-0 in each of those matchups before rallying back.
For a first-year defenseman, it’s eye-popping production. Schaefer now sits at 44 points in 61 games this season. Not bad for last year’s No. 1 overall pick.
His recent heater even caught the attention of Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger. Taking to social media, Pronger praised the youngster’s milestone. “Congrats on goal #20 Matthew Schaefer #isles What a start to his career. He is definitely THE difference maker with NYI,” Pronger wrote.
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But when a fan asked whether Schaefer’s run was “Norris worthy,” Pronger offered a measured and honest response. “Not sure we are quite there yet with the other options available but the Isles have 20 games left and wouldn’t put it past the kid to make it interesting,” Pronger said.
That’s high praise, even with caution attached.
The Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability during the regular season, is no easy race. This year’s field is stacked. Zach Werenski has emerged as a leading candidate now, thanks to his heavy workload and point production.
Other names in the mix include Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Evan Bouchard, and fellow rookie standout Lane Hutson.
Schaefer still has ground to make up compared to those established stars. But the fact that his name is even entering the conversation speaks volumes about the kind of impact he’s had in Year 1.
And he’s clearly feeding off the energy. “I have to stay dialed in, but when I hear that from the crowd, it gets me super fired up,” Schaefer said after the win over Florida. “It’s so fun. I want to hear that every night.”
Whether he truly crashes the Norris race or not, one thing is clear: Schaefer has already changed the trajectory of the Islanders’ season.
Next up, New York faces the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
