One year from now, Matthew Schaefer will be a year away from restricted free agency on July 1, 2028, and the New York Islanders are already staring down the clock.
That reality has only sharpened after a wild summer around the league, especially with Leo Carlsson signing a massive offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers. Moves like that tend to reset everyone’s sense of what elite young talent can command, and for the Islanders, the instinct will be to get ahead of the problem. If all goes according to plan, they’ll start working toward locking Schaefer up as soon as July 1, 2027.
That urgency makes sense. Schaefer, 18, didn’t just meet expectations in his rookie season - he blew right past them.
The defenseman won the Calder Trophy after putting up 23 goals and 59 points, a year that changed the conversation around him almost immediately. He also earned praise inside the organization for who he is away from the ice, not just what he does on it.
Still, the latest contract news around the league may end up shaping the conversation more than anything else. On Thursday morning, word broke that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar are closing in on a long-term extension, one that’s expected to be a “biggie.”
That deal will almost certainly get people in Islanders circles doing the math on Schaefer’s next contract. But the comparison only goes so far.
Makar is the NHL’s best defenseman right now, and his deal will cover only UFA years. Schaefer’s next extension, by contrast, would have to buy out five years of RFA control before he even gets near UFA status.
The number that matters most is the percentage of the salary cap Makar ends up taking. That’s what agents watch, and with the cap climbing quickly, that percentage is the more relevant marker for what a future Schaefer deal could look like.
There’s also the part Schaefer himself has made clear: the money isn’t the point. Staying on Long Island is his top priority.
And from the Islanders’ side, the cap picture gives them plenty of room to work. By July 1, 2028, the following contracts will be off the books: Brayden Schenn at $6.5 million AAV, Ondrej Palat at $6 million, Kyle Palmieri at $4.75 million, Tony DeAngelo at $4 million, Semyon Varlamov at $2.75 million, and Casey Cizikas at $2.5 million.
That adds up to $26.5 million in space, which is 25.48% of the current cap hit charges against the Islanders.
The trade-protection picture is manageable too. On July 1, 2028, only one player on the roster will have full trade protection: Alexander Romanov, whose full no-trade clause begins on July 1, 2027.
So while the Schaefer extension talk is going to keep coming, the Islanders are in position to handle it. The framework is there, the money should be there, and the business side looks built to take care of itself.
In Other News...
Islanders Just Sent A Clear Message About Player Development
The Islanders are continuing to reshape the infrastructure around their players, this time by adding more experience on the performance side of the operation. Bryan Marshall is stepping in with a broad mandate to oversee strength and conditioning across the organization, a move that signals the club wants a more connected approach from the top of the system down to the NHL roster.
Andrew Kacsor is also coming aboard in a strength and conditioning role, adding another voice to a group that already includes Joe Erdos. Between Marshalls new oversight role and Kacsors background with other professional hockey organizations, the Islanders are leaning into development in a way that goes beyond the ice, with the emphasis clearly on building a sturdier pipeline for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Third Jersey Just Became A Bigger Long Island Story
The Islanders next third jersey is already starting to take shape, and it comes with a distinctly Long Island feel. James Doyles Navy Lighthouse design stood out in the teams contest for the 2027-28 sweater, tapping into one of the regions most recognizable symbols and a motif that showed up repeatedly in fan submissions. It is the kind of concept that fits the Islanders local identity, giving the club a chance to lean into something that feels rooted in the community rather than just another alternate uniform.
Before the jersey is introduced next season, the design will be fleshed out with matching pants, gloves and helmet to complete the look. For the Islanders, the appeal goes beyond a new piece of merch or a fresh uniform unveiling, because the lighthouse theme has clearly resonated with fans and gives the team a strong visual link to Long Island. The bigger question now is how the finished set will translate once the full uniform package is revealed. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Should Watch What Cale Makar Means For Schaefer
The changing top end of the NHL salary market is worth watching closely on Long Island, because whatever happens with Cale Makar could end up shaping the price tag for the next wave of young stars. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the Avalanche and Makar are nearing a new deal, and for the Islanders, the ripple effect matters since Matthew Schaefer is heading into his second professional season with his own extension window coming into view next summer.
Schaefers situation is still a little down the road, but the broader contract climate is already shifting around him. With salary cap movement and a more expensive market for elite defensemen, the Islanders may soon have to decide how they want to structure their future with him, and whether they prefer a shorter-term reset or a longer commitment when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]