The New York Islanders franchise changed its trajectory when they selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Schaefer a season ago was a 17-year-old defenseman for the Erie Otters in the OHL.

Now, he is continuing to be impressive for New York and continues to prove why he is the best rookie in the NHL this season. Schaefer scored two goals for the Islanders in a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday night. Because of his performance during his rookie season, New York is currently in a playoff spot, and they have a 35-21-5 record with 75 points.

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Schaefer is going to be a hard player for other teams to stop in the playoffs. What is so historic about his rookie season?

New York Islanders Matthew Schaefer Becomes First 18-Year-Old Defenseman to Score 20 Goals During Rookie Season

At just 18 years old, Schaefer continues to shine against his opponents. He did not play for Team Canada in the Olympics, and it was probably a mistake that he wasn’t named to that team. This season with the Islanders, Schaefer has played in 61 games and has scored 20 goals and has recorded 24 assists, along with a plus/minus rating of 14.

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He is very well on his way to winning the Calder Trophy this season. It would be a shock if Schaefer didn’t win it. With him scoring two goals against the Panthers on Sunday, he officially becomes the first 18-year-old defenseman to score 20 goals in an NHL season in NHL history. It feels like this record may not be broken for a very long time.

There is no doubt that Schaefer is on his way to becoming a superstar in this sport. The Islanders have found themselves the next great stud defenseman in this sport. The fact that he is going to potentially make the playoffs during his rookie season is a big deal for him.

Many NHL fans will get to see how special he is during the Stanley Cup Playoffs potentially this season. Schaefer has a chance to get to 30 goals this year with 22 games remaining in the regular season here.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.