Ever since being selected first overall by the New York Islanders at the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer's big league debut has been highly anticipated -- and he is exceeding expectations every step of the way.
Many scouts and NHL experts had predicted that the 18-year-old was primed for a spot as the Islanders' No. 1 defenseman, but after spending most of his draft-eligible season recouping from an injury, there were some lingering questions about how quick that transition would be. But Schaefer has risen to the occasion in a historic way.
Through three games played so far, Schaefer leads all Islanders skaters in time on ice, averaging 23:18 per game. That includes two games where he's played over 25 minutes, which is a hefty task for any blueliner, let alone a rookie who's just beginning his debut season.
It's not just the quantity of his ice time, but the quality of it that makes Schaefer truly stand out. When looking at all 62 NHL defenseman who have skated in at least 50 minutes of ice time so far -- which basically encompasses the league's top defenders -- Schaefer ranks sixth in Corsi for with 58.6%.
Not only that, but Schaefer actually holds the second-best Fenwick for percentage of that group at 62.3%, behind only Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers. Fenwick represents the team's total number of shot attempts, minus any blocked shots. Both of those statistics speak to the way the Islanders are able to dominate possession and generate offensive opportunities when Schaefer is on the ice.
Schaefer has made the most of said opportunities, becoming the youngest defenseman to record a point in his NHL debut just one month after his 18th birthday -- but more than that, Schaefer set a new benchmark in the league's history books.
Schaefer has already made NHL history with his three-game point streak
With a goal and two assists through his first three games, Schaefer has gotten his NHL career off to a a hot start as he rides a three-game point streak. That makes him the first defenseman in NHL history, age 18 or younger, to open an NHL season with points in at least three straight matchups. The only other defenseman to begin their career in such a fashion at any point in the season were Hall of Famer Phil Housley, who recorded a four-game point streak in the 1982-83 season, and Jacob Chychrun, doing so in 2016-17.
But Schaefer is also responsible for another NHL first. He is the first D-man drafted first overall to tally at least one point in his first three career games. The only other players at any position to do so in the last 30 years: Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor Bedard.
Being in such elite company may place great expectations on his shoulders, but Schaefer has proven in a small sample size that he was worth all of the excitement. He almost certainly can't keep up the point-per-game pace throughout an entire season, but he is doing the right things both with and away from the puck, and that's worth more than
Matthew Schaefer became the youngest defenceman in NHL history with a point in his first NHL game – how about that for the rookie’s debut 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BV0lWiohqY
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) October 10, 2025