The New York Islanders knew they were getting a franchise cornerstone in Matthew Schaefer. They didn’t expect him to take over the league before Thanksgiving. Most 18-year-old defensemen spend their first months in the NHL trying to survive, but the top pick in the 2025 draft is already dictating games with the poise of a ten-year veteran.
His rapid ascent has turned heads across the hockey world, but it was a Thursday night in Detroit where everything clicked into place. The Red Wings thought they had a game plan for the rookie. By the time the final horn sounded on a 5-0 blowout, they realized how wrong they were.
Did Matthew Schaefer Catch the Red Wings Off-Guard?
Detroit entered the matchup believing it understood New York’s structure. Instead, the Red Wings spent the night chasing Schaefer’s shadow. He didn’t need flashy, end-to-end rushes to control the game. His ability to move the puck and manage shifts kept Detroit pinned down, making the lopsided score feel inevitable.
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan admitted after the loss that his team wasn’t prepared for the rookie’s maturity. Even with the hype surrounding a first overall pick, Schaefer’s command of the ice stood out.
“Wow. … Anytime a young man goes first overall, you expect a lot from him … but from the outside, we didn’t expect quite this type of performance. … The fans in that community will be really lucky to watch him for many years,” McLellan said.
That showing in Detroit was just the latest chapter in a dominant opening act. Since signing his three-year, $2,925,000 entry-level contract, Schaefer has been worth every penny and then some. Through 21 games, he has posted seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. Add in a plus-7 rating and over 22 minutes of ice time per night, and it’s clear he’s already the anchor of the Islanders’ blue line.
His production puts him in elite company. Cale Makar recently passed him for the league lead in goals among defensemen, but the fact that a teenager is trading punches with a Norris Trophy winner shows how special this start has been. Opponents like Detroit are learning the hard way that they need to account for him on every shift.
The win over the Red Wings also showcased his resilience. Schaefer shook off a double-minor for high-sticking without missing a beat, returning to the ice to help lock down the shutout for Ilya Sorokin, who finished with 29 saves. While Maxim Shabanov grabbed the headlines with three points, Schaefer did the heavy lifting that kept Detroit from finding any rhythm.
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His play has earned attention far beyond Long Island. Schaefer confirmed that he has been added to Canada’s long list for the Olympics, a move that places him under the drug-testing protocol and clears the way for potential selection. Being mentioned alongside superstars like Makar, Toews, and Morrissey just months into his pro career proves he’s already viewed as one of the game’s best.
Detroit might have been the first team to admit they were surprised, but they won’t be the last. The Islanders are trusting Schaefer with responsibilities that would crush most rookies, and he’s handling the pressure without blinking. If this is what he looks like in November, the rest of the league has a serious problem to solve.