Photo by Dennis DaSilva/NHLI via Getty Images When the New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27, few could have predicted how quickly the 18-year-old would adjust to the league. Just weeks into his rookie season, Schaefer has already become one of the most talked-about young players in hockey — not only for his poise and production but for the physical attention he’s attracting. Since his NHL debut on October 9 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the teenager has delivered highlight moments on a near-nightly basis. Unfortunately, so have his opponents, who seem increasingly determined to knock him off his game.New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer is excelling and getting knocked around for itMatthew Schaefer’s rise has been rapid. After recording his first NHL point with an assist in his debut, he scored two days later against the Washington Capitals and continued to impress with a multi-point night on October 21 versus San Jose. In just 13 games, the rookie has notched five goals and 11 points, becoming a sparkplug on the Islanders’ blue line. But his growing impact has also made him a target.The physical play against Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer began ramping up in late October, highlighting how opponents are targeting the 2025 No. 1 overall pick. In a lopsided 7–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on October 25, Detroit forward Mason Appleton went after Schaefer in the final seconds. Two nights later, in Philadelphia, Schaefer picked up his first roughing penalty after a tangle with Flyers winger Nikita Grebenkin. And when the Islanders faced the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, defenseman Nikita Zadorov cross-checked Schaefer to the ice before striking him in the face.His teammates immediately came to his defense. “We’re a family here… I know they always have my back, and they know I will always have their backs,” Schaefer told reporters after the game. Islanders captain Anders Lee and forward Anthony Duclair both leapt in to challenge Zadorov, who brushed off the backlash afterward. On Instagram, Zadorov even mocked Islanders fans, replying to their angry messages by saying, “Get out of my DMs and go to the rink to cheer for your team. That place was a library tonight.”
Can the New York Islanders protect their 18-year-old franchise player?
For Schaefer, the attention is proof that his play is turning heads. But it also puts him in danger. “Teams are starting to see how good he really is,” Duclair told reporters postgame. “Obviously, you want to be hard on good players. We try to do the same with their star players, so he definitely is going to have a target on his back all year. We’re here to protect him.”The situation has raised questions about how much longer Islanders management can allow the team’s top prospect to take this level of abuse. General manager Mathieu Darche now faces a decision: find an enforcer or risk watching Schaefer suffer the same fate as other stars who learned hard rookie lessons. Coach Patrick Roy echoed that sentiment when he said, “Eventually, he’s going to have the same protection that the star players get. I hope (the wait for that is) not too long.”For all his talent, Schaefer is still just 18 — a year removed from facing teenagers in junior hockey, now standing up to grown men like the 6-foot-7, 255-pound Zadorov. His maturity, skill, and composure have impressed everyone around him, but the Islanders must decide whether his resilience alone is enough. If they don’t find a way to shield their young star soon, Matthew Schaefer’s breakout season could turn into a dangerous one.Also Read: Brent Seabrook looks back on Duncan Keith’s Hall of Fame journey and their championship legacy in Chicago Blackhawks