Tom Brady praises Matthew Shaefer (Getty Images) Matthew Schaefer does not look like a rookie playing catch-up in the NHL. He looks like someone who already belongs in the league’s inner circle.That belief is now shared well beyond hockey rinks. When Tom Brady publicly singled out the New York Islanders defenseman, it signaled more than a passing compliment. It reflected recognition of presence, confidence, and timing. All three have defined Schaefer’s first season. The Islanders have leaned on him in big moments, and he has answered with calm decisions and fearless plays that shift games late.Momentum followed him into Saturday night at UBS Arena, where New York faced Toronto in a tight, emotional contest. The Islanders erased two deficits, stayed patient, and trusted their structure. In the end, it was Schaefer who delivered the final blow, finishing the job in overtime with poise that rarely shows up at 18.
Matthew Schaefer earns rare praise from Tom Brady after breakout night
Schaefer’s impact against the Maple Leafs went far beyond the scoresheet. He scored twice, including the overtime winner with 49 seconds left, jumping into space and finishing a clean look set up by Mathew Barzal. Earlier, he tied the game by driving hard to the net, choosing courage over caution.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Afterward, Schaefer deflected credit in a way veterans respect. “That second one was all Barzal,” Schaefer said after the game on Saturday. “I forget who passed it up to Barzal, but it was basically all Barzal. He drew the man, and then he passed it right to me. I was right down the mainway. It was all Barzal.”Later that same night, his name surfaced in a different arena. In a Nobull social media video, Brady was asked which NHL player he would want to sign. The answer came quickly. “You know I talked to this kid Matthew, this young guy,” Brady says in a video shared by the apparel company on Sunday. “He kind of has that eye of the tiger, that look that I always had, Matthew Schaefer, you heard of him? That’s who I’d want.”Brady doubled down elsewhere, saying, “One player right now? You know, I talked to this kid, Matthew, this young guy. He kind of has that eye of the tiger, that look that I always had. Matthew Schaefer, you heard of him? That’s who I want.”The praise fits the résumé. Schaefer, the top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has posted 28 points in 42 games, set age-based records, and delivered steady play on both ends. The Islanders now turn toward another divisional test, but the message is clear. Schaefer is not waiting for the future. He is shaping the present.Also Read: Sidney Crosby rewrites NHL history with clutch overtime winner, becoming first player to reach 50 OT points