The New York Islanders have re-emerged as a serious contender this season after missing the playoffs last year. With a 37-23-5 record, the team now sits third in the Metropolitan Division and appears poised for a deep playoff run.
A big reason for that turnaround has been the emergence of their young rookie sensation, a player who NHL legend Wayne Gretzky believes deserves to be mentioned in the MVP conversation.
Wayne Gretzky Makes MVP Case for Islanders Rookie Matthew Schaefer
That player is rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is putting together a remarkable debut season for the Islanders.
He has recorded more than 45 points while averaging a team-leading 24 minutes of ice time per game. Schaefer leads all rookies with 20 goals and is closing in on the all-time rookie defenseman goal record of 23 set by Brian Leetch.
During a recent discussion about Schaefer’s impact, Gretzky acknowledged that elite defensemen like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes still sit at the top of the position in today’s NHL. However, he believes the young Islanders star deserves to be part of a much bigger conversation.
“I have to say, you know, Makar and Hughes are so good. Those two guys are probably a notch above everyone else,” Gretzky said.
“But I’m sitting here thinking, my goodness, would this team be where they are right now without him? What about winning the MVP of the league? That’s how good this kid has been. I’m not saying he’s going to win it,” he added.
The Hall of Famer suggested that if the MVP award truly recognizes the player most valuable to his team, Schaefer’s name deserves to at least enter the discussion. He also acknowledged the presence of superstar players like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, “but take a step back and say, would the Islanders be where they are today without Schaefer? And I don’t think they would be.”
Schaefer’s influence on the ice has been dramatic. Originally expected to start the season in a more limited role, the rookie has quickly developed into New York’s undisputed No. 1 defenseman.
His arrival has also helped transform the Islanders’ power play. Schaefer leads the team in power-play points and has already recorded 15 points with the man advantage.
More broadly, his presence has injected new energy into a team that previously relied heavily on veteran players.
For now, Schaefer and the Islanders will turn their focus back to the ice as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
