Peter DeBoer didn’t need long to come away impressed by Matthew Schaefer.
After joining the New York Islanders for the final four games of the 2025-26 regular season, the veteran coach said the 18-year-old already carries himself like someone the room listens to.
“I think he's already a respected voice in that dressing room,” DeBoer told The Athletic's Peter Baugh. “Having said that, he's an 18-, 19-year-old player, and he's got an awful lot on his plate individually.
Will he be part of our (leadership) group? Absolutely he will, and I think he's got future captain written all over him.
But I think we have to be very careful not to put too much on his plate too early.”
The Islanders are in the market for leadership after Anders Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth this offseason. Lee wore the “C” for the past eight seasons on Long Island.
DeBoer said he still hasn’t decided whether the Islanders will name a captain for the 2026-27 season.
“I want to spend training camp with the group again, get a little more feel for the players and the options,” he said. “Then we'll make some decisions.”
If Schaefer were to get the captaincy before opening night, he’d become the youngest full-time captain in NHL history. Schaefer won’t turn 19 until Sept. 5, while the current mark belongs to Connor McDavid, who was named captain of the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 at 19 years and 266 days old.
He’s not the only name in the mix. Bo Horvat and Brayden Schenn both have captaincy experience from previous teams, while Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech are also among the Islanders’ longest-tenured players and could be considered.
Whatever happens with the “C,” DeBoer is eager to spend a full season coaching the reigning Calder Trophy winner.
“He's going to get a lot more attention from other teams,” DeBoer said. “Expectations are obviously higher, which puts a lot more pressure on the individual. I can't tell you how excited I am about his potential and being able to work with him.”
In Other News...
Pete DeBoer Just Turned Islanders Captain Debate Into A Bigger Story
The Islanders are heading into training camp with a leadership vacancy they have not had to navigate in seven years, and it comes with Anders Lee gone in free agency. For a team that has leaned on a clear captaincy structure for so long, the absence of that letter on a sweater is more than a formality. It is one more sign that this camp is about sorting out roles as much as it is about sharpening systems and lines.
Pete DeBoer is not rushing the process, either. He said he wants to use training camp to evaluate the leadership group before making a call on whether the Islanders will name a captain before opening night, which leaves the door open for a longer look at who can handle the room and the responsibility. In the same breath, he pointed to Matthew Schaefer as a player with real leadership upside for the future, a reminder that this decision is about both the present and what the organization wants to build next. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Add Goalie And Blue Line Depth To Bridgeport Pipeline
The Islanders added a little more organizational insurance this week, bringing back goaltender Henrik Tikkanen on a one-year deal while also stocking up on the blue line and in net for their AHL setup. Along with Tikkanen, the club signed defenseman Ryan Healey and goaltender Ryan Fanti to one-year AHL contracts, moves that give the pipeline some needed depth heading into the upcoming season.
For an organization that always has one eye on keeping Bridgeport competitive and another on shoring up the next wave of call-up options, these are the kinds of transactions that matter more than they might first appear. Tikkanens extension keeps a familiar presence in the system, while Healey and Fanti arrive as new pieces who could help stabilize the Hammers roster and provide the Islanders with more flexibility as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]