INSPIRE: Matthew Schaefer’s EXCEPTIONAL Debut Powers Islanders Surging Playoff Aspirations

It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

Matthew Schaefer keeps making news all across the hockey world.

We'll talk about what he's done, who's talking about him and the impact he's had on the

Islanders this year and beyond.

You're Lockdown Islanders, your daily podcast on the New York Islanders,

part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

Welcome everybody to this Wednesday bonus episode of the Lockdown Islanders podcast,

part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

I want to thank everyone who makes Lockdown Islanders, your first listen every day.

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I'm Gil Martin. I've been covering the New York Islanders for two decades and I wrote the

book Ice Wars. The history of the Islanders rivalry with the Rangers from 1972 till the modern era.

So glad you could join us today to talk a little Islanders hockey and we have got a lot to get to

on this bonus episode. This bonus episode is focused on Matthew Schaefer, the outstanding Islanders

rookie. We'll talk about what arguably the greatest hockey player in history had to say about

Schaefer. We'll talk about his impact on the Islanders and we'll update the calder trophy race

as the NHL's top rookie. Let's start with Matthew Schaefer's impact on the New York Islanders.

Right now, Schaefer is one of only two players on the New York Islanders who have scored 20 goals

or more the other. Obviously, Bo Horvat. Keep in mind Schaefer as a defenseman has outscored

Matthew Barzall, Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom, JG Pazzo, Emil Heinemann. He is outscored every player

on the New York Islanders except for Bo Horvat. And in points, right now, he's second on the

he's second on the team in goals, second on the team in assists, second on the team in total points

with 47 in 65 games. He is a plus 13, which has him in a tie with Matthew Barzall, Simon Holmstrom

and Ryan Pollock, four tops on the New York Islanders. And those are numbers. And I can give you

the numbers that say, yeah, this is, you know, and I can go into the advanced analytics and you know,

talk about creating chances and breaking up chances and, you know, how many shots and goals

five on five and all of that stuff. Fine. But let's talk more about some of the things that Matthew

Schaefer has done and what he means to the New York Islanders. First of all, the Islanders

are now 10 and 0 in games decided in overtime. That's a record. No team has ever accomplished

that since the NHL went to three on three over time. There is no way that the Islanders are there

without Matthew Schaefer. The speed, the vision, the passing, the desire to go to the net,

all the many things that he brings to the table. You wouldn't be there if you had the same

lineup as last year. And let's even say, you know, the Islanders are, as I said, 10 and 0 in games

decided in overtime. Let's even just say they go five and five instead of 10 and 0 if Schaefer

wasn't on the team. Take away five points from the Islanders. They go from 79 to 74 points.

That puts them on the outside looking in in the playoff race right now, not out of it,

but just on the outside looking in. And again, that's just the number of points they've earned

from overtime. Then I think there's more to it. And I think we've seen it even more after the

Olympic break, but I think we've seen it throughout the season. And this is extraordinary

for an 18 year old rookie. Forget the numbers which are extraordinary for an 18 year old rookie.

But here's the deal. Schaefer has essentially lifted this team and the veterans on this team

to play better hockey. If you were able to watch the game on TNT yesterday against St. Louis and

you heard Schaefer miked up and you heard his genuine enthusiasm for the game.

I think you also heard the way his teammates react to what he says and does both on the ice and

when they're celebrating. I think there is little doubt that Matthew Schaefer's presence

has energized this roster. Usually it's the veterans who are trying to get the the rookies to respond

and to mentor them in some ways as far as just attitude and enthusiasm. I think Matthew Schaefer

has energized some of the veterans on this roster. I think Ryan Polock and Adam Pelleck, for example,

have played better this year in part because they're healthier and in part because of the

inspiration of Matthew Schaefer. That he makes them have to step up and do more things because they

see what he's capable of doing. And I think there is just a ripple effect across this lineup. I think

that the addition of Schaefer has meant that it's impacted Matthew Barsal and we've talked about

that prior on the show. Barsal, 18 goals, 60 points and 64 games having one of his better seasons. His

plus 13 is very impressive when you consider that 16 of his 60 points this year have come on the

power play. Again, I think Barsal has been helped by having another player on this team in Schaefer

who can keep up with him skating-wise, who can create like he can create, who goes to the net,

and I think kind of inspires Barsie to go to the net a little more often. All of these things are

little subtle factors that show the impact of Matthew Schaefer on the islanders right now. And then

let's even get to this. His average time on ice, 24 minutes and 18 seconds is three minutes and 18

seconds more than the next highest islander, which is Ryan Pollock. He is, and in recent weeks,

in recent games, especially, let's say, since the Olympic break, he's been on the ice more than

that. Remember, they kind of tried to start him off a little bit slowly the first week or two of

the season, since the Olympic break and even before then, Schaefer has been playing 25, 27,

a couple of games ago, 29 minutes did not hardly come off the ice in overtime. So I think the impact

of Matthew Schaefer, I could probably do three shows in a row only talking about the ripple effect

that Schaefer has. I think Patrick Wah has approached the game differently, has played a slightly

different style as a result of having Matthew Schaefer available, a little bit more uptempo,

a little bit more. Let's go for it. And I think that's the style that Wah always wanted this team

to play and his teams to play. But Schaefer actually allows the team to effectively do it,

more often, whereas in previous sets of circumstances, when the team did not have Matthew Schaefer

available, then you're talking about a much more tricky situation where he doesn't have the tools

to run the system he wanted to run. So the impact of Matthew Schaefer on the New York Islanders

has been extraordinary and the beautiful thing about it from a New York Islander's standpoint

is that this kid at age 18 has not even come close to reaching his potential. And what he'll be

like at 21, at 24, at 27, at 32, if the Islanders can hold on to him and build a franchise around him.

They can have Schaefer be the anchor, the cornerstone of a team that could contend for

seven, ten years. The goal that Matthew Darsh laid out of building a contending team that will be

like the avalanche, the stars, the lightning, the panthers, a team that's been at or near the top

of the league for the better part of a decade. The foundation of that team is Matthew Schaefer

and he's on there right now. So looking forward to seeing what this kid can do over time, but so far

I have enjoyed every minute of watching Matthew Schaefer grow, play, do his thing, and be the tide

that lifts all boats for the New York Islanders. We have more to get to on today's show. We'll talk

about what Wayne Gretzky said about Matthew Schaefer, plus the call to race. We've got that and more

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If you saw the pre-game show before the Islanders game against the Blues on Tuesday and again this

was a TNT game you may not have realized that right away because as you may recall you had Brendan

in book on the call for TNT so that was a nice double bonus there for Islander fans but Gretzky

on the pre-game show said that not only should Matthew Schaefer win the Calder trophy this year

but that he should probably get consideration as NHL MVP and you know that's a whole different

animal. Here's what Gretzky had to say. I'm sitting here thinking my goodness with this team B

where they are right now without him. What about winning the MVP, the league? That's how good

this kid has been. Now I don't agree with Wayne Gretzky that Matthew Schaefer should win the heart

trophy. Could he get a few votes? Heart trophy is League MVP? Yes. No question about that.

And yet to make him the league MVP when I still think that Ilja Seroken is the Islander's team MVP

it's a little bit of a jump. Now I do think that Schaefer will win a heart trophy before his career

is over if he continues to stay healthy, continues to develop and the Islander's win consistently

during his tenure. I think he is more than capable of doing that. But again Gretzky take a step back

and say would the Islanders be where they are today without Schaefer? I don't think they would be.

I think he's spot on about that. And the impact that Matthew Schaefer has made on the New York

Islanders is getting national media in the United States and Canada to really take notice of

the Islanders. All of a sudden the Islanders want to, you know, networks want the Islanders

on TV. All of a sudden the Islanders not because of who they're playing but because they are

the Islanders are being discussed in pre-game shows, post-game shows, intermissions, hockey

podcasts and new shows. I mean this is an Islanders podcast. So obviously I'm going to talk Islanders

but national podcasts that are designed to cover the whole league when I'm doing locked on an HL

and even when other hosts are hosting locked on an HL the Islanders are now

a topic of conversation on a fairly regular basis and this doesn't happen without Matthew Schaefer.

And just to take it a step further after Wayne Gretzky the athletic again at the three-quarter

mark of the season they listed the favorites the top five for the call they're trophy.

Matthew Schaefer, the runaway number one, number one on both experts ballots.

And here is the quote in the article from the athletic.

Matthew Schaefer is to quote the definition of the award, the player most proficient in his first

year of competition in the national hockey league. And while it's the record breaking gold

totals that have put it to bed, his impact on the Islanders extends to being among the league

leaders in ice time doing it with world class skating and a great head on his shoulders,

driving positive impact at both ends. He has single, handedly elevated the Islanders ambitions and

even if Ivan Demidov or Beckett Seneca were to go on a 30 and 20 heater and get close to a point

per game, Schaefer still probably runs away with the call there. So let there be no doubt who the

favorite is for the call their trophy right now. And it's Matthew Schaefer by a landslide.

And absolutely deserved by Matthew Schaefer. So look, this bonus episode is not the first time I'm

going to talk extensively about Matthew Schaefer on this show. And it won't be the last time I talk

extensively about Matthew Schaefer on this show. All I know is this kid has been absolutely

amazing for the New York Islanders and probably is just getting started. And I absolutely love

to see it. I'm Joey Erickson of Locked On Stars. In business, there's no room for guesswork.

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When we discuss whatever's on your mind, you can follow the show on X at Locked On Isles. You

can follow me Gil Martin on X at Ice Wars, NYR, VSNYI. We'll keep you up to date on all things

islanders all year long. And I am live tweeting during nearly every islanders home and road game.

So join me for a little instant insight and analysis. And it's great to talk islanders hockey with

you, game time or anytime. We'll be back with our regularly scheduled episode. It goes live on

YouTube at midnight. It goes live on audio a few minutes after that. And we'll also have a bonus

episode tomorrow. So make sure you look for that as we break down all the latest islanders news notes

and happenings. I'm Gil Martin. Thank you so much for watching. Stay safe everybody. And of course,

let's go islanders.

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