Schaefer Scores 20 Goals, Revolutionizing Islanders

Here's more NHL news from March 19th.

Matthew Schaeffer, the 18-year-old rookie defenseman for the New York Islanders, just

became the fourth first-year blueliner in NHL history too.

Score 20 goals in a season.

This puts him alongside legends like Brian Leech and Deon Faniff and he's logging more

ice time than almost any rookie defenseman in the last 30 years.

The Islander snag Schaeffer with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft after beating

long odds in the lottery, just three point.

5% chance.

Coach Patrick Roy saw the offensive upside coming from his junior days, but the steady

defensive play has blown everyone away.

Roy raves about Schaeffer's leadership in the locker room, even as the youngest guy

on the roster.

He jumps into Russia smartly and shuts down opponents, helping the team big time.

It's that mix of smarts and voice that sets him apart from other promising kids.

Schaeffer's anchoring both the power play and penalty kill, while piling up huge minutes

on track to top most rookies since stats started tracking them decades ago.

No Islander's defenseman had hit 20 goals since Dennis Poppin back in the 1985-86 season.

The milestone hit during a five-game win streak that's boosted New York right into playoff

contention, turning around a team that finished 23rd last year.

With Roy at the helm, this kid's already changing the franchise's path.

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