The New York Islanders may already have their next franchise cornerstone in Matthew Schaefer, and the case for locking him up long term is getting stronger by the week.
Taken first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer wasted no time showing why the Islanders believed he was a generational defenseman. He closed the 2025-26 season with 23 goals and 59 points, then capped it by being unanimously selected for the Calder Memorial Trophy. This season has picked up right where that one left off: 4 goals and 10 assists through 14 games, plus 12 blocked shots to go with the 111 he piled up last season.
The offense grabs attention, but the two-way impact is what really stands out. Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer has made it clear how much he trusts Schaefer, and that trust hit a new level on October 27 against the Nashville Predators.
In overtime, DeBoer kept Schaefer on the ice for the entire five-minute period, making him the first player in NHL history to skate through an entire overtime period without leaving the ice. New York went on to beat Nashville 4-3 in a shootout.
Schaefer’s rise has also come with a deeply personal mission. After the Islanders selected him, the hockey world learned of the death of his mother, Jennifer Schaefer, in 2024 after her battle with breast cancer. Since arriving on Long Island, he has made a point of giving back through Cancer Awareness events and surprise visits to hospitalized patients.
That connection to the community grew even stronger in May 2026, when the Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Room was announced at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in New Hyde Park. The room came through a partnership with Northwell Health and the Islanders Children’s Foundation, giving Schaefer a way to honor his mother while continuing to support others.
For Islanders fans, the comparison point is obvious. New York has not had a young star this promising since John Tavares went first overall in 2009. After Tavares left for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, the search for the next face of the franchise has been ongoing.
Schaefer has also had help settling in. Former Islander Matt Martin and his family have provided a home for him during his early career, and Martin now serves as Special Assistant to General Manager Mathieu Darche.
With Schaefer already producing on the ice and making an impact off it, the Islanders have a clear decision ahead. Once he becomes eligible this upcoming offseason, the organization should be looking to secure him on a long-term deal.
In Other News...
Islanders Are Taking A Low-Risk Look At A Former First-Round Pick
The Islanders AHL pipeline is getting a closer look at a familiar name, with the Hamilton Hammers bringing in veteran forward Robby Fabbri on a professional tryout agreement. It is the kind of low-commitment move teams make this time of year, a chance to evaluate a player with NHL experience without locking themselves into anything long term, while also giving the affiliate another option to sort through in camp.
Fabbri is not the only forward getting an extended audition in Hamilton, either. The Hammers also added Antonio Stranges on a PTO after he spent last season with the Texas Stars, appearing in 70 games, and both moves give the Islanders organization a little more depth to monitor as the roster picture starts to settle. The real question now is whether either tryout turns into something more permanent once the team gets a better read on how they fit. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Are Running Out Of Time To Turn Good Play Into Points
The Islanders are at the point in the season where the process discussion starts to matter less than the points column. Fifteen games in, they have played well enough to stay in the mix, but a 7-6-2 start has left them fifth in the Metropolitan Division and needing a quicker return on the work they have put in so far.
Bo Horvat has already framed the issue plainly, and coach Pete DeBoer has been pushing the same message: good stretches have to turn into wins before the standings get away from them. Practice brought some tweaks to the lines and power play as the club looks for a spark, and with the Eastern Conference race already tightening, the Islanders do not have much time to keep leaving points on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Searching For The Right Lineup Before Devils Showdown
After a 5-3 loss to Carolina, the Islanders went back to work Tuesday with more lineup tinkering ahead of their meeting with New Jersey. Head coach Peter DeBoer mixed up the forward groups and defensive pairings during practice, a sign the club is still trying to settle on the right combinations as it looks to rebound quickly.
The changes included a look at Emil Heineman in a more prominent role and a new face on the blue line after Ben Hutton joined the mix on a PTO earlier this week. The injury picture also remains part of the equation, with Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Matias Maccelli skating in non-contact jerseys for the third straight day, leaving the Islanders with a few more questions than answers as the Devils game approaches. [Read more 🡒]