Matthew Schaefer is breaking NHL records at 18 and nobody can figure out how he’s doing it. From insane skating data to goal scoring numbers that rival Bobby Orr, his rookie season is starting to look unreal. How is a teenager leading NHL defensemen in goals and ice time? The full story is crazier than you think.
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@New York Islanders
31 Comments
You were doing great until you called us "Fish Sticks"
This kid is unbelievable!! At 18 years old??!!
He reminds me of Scott Neidermeyer who would never get tired and felt bad for his linemate when he was gassed because he could just stay out there. He skates leaning forwards and can duck lower to avoid hits. Also he is such a good kid with a great story.
It’s crazy jow good he’s quickly become. To look at his stats he never seemed dominant, you could just tell by watching him he controlled the game without having to get on the score sheet but he does. I love watching him skate he’s got a bright future
As a Ranger fan, I'm so jealous. How 'bout a trade for Alexis Lafrenière?
Islanders fan in Salt Lake for the past 26 years, and when we got the Mammoth I went in hard for us locally, since it's the only pro hockey I could get to since the 90s. Still obviously follow the Islanders, and when the team came out to Salt Lake last week, I needed to get there.
Ended up seeing Schaefer break the record for youngest player – not defenseman, player – to score in OT. My wife got the whole scoring sequence on video from our seats.
Kid makes me tear up every time I see him. I can't believe how good he is, or how good of a story he's turning out to be.
It’s been a long time but I am actually excited for the islanders this year. That kid sounds like a franchise player through and through
He is a great talent but no defenceman ever had an impact like Bobby Orr. Dont exaggerate please!
What people sometimes don’t realize is that when a superior skilled player gets to play with others that are highly skilled, their effect can be instantly magnified.
He's a franchise player. He's going to raise the Cup as an Islander.
The kid looks really good and if he continues to develop, he will become one of the best in the league. A little early to mention his name along with the likes of Makar, Hughes, and others not to mention Potvin, Orr, Robinson, Lidstrom, Park, and a host of other Hall of Famers. Hopefully we are seeing greatness in the making.
I just hope all the hype doesn't turn the kid into an egotistical jerk. Won't be surprised if it does.
Yep
Kid has Ohtani vibes lol.
Give me my 99 ovr card now. He winning it all.
We shruck gold ! Yes Yes Yes!
We got Schaefer on the isle, and Sennecke in OC. Coast to coast, these kids are helping their respective teams become a fun watch again.
Always loved the Isles for whatever reason, and as a Ducks fan I understand the recent frustrations y’all on the island have experienced.
too bad he went to one of the worst franchises in the league. Shouldve went to Chicago or SJ
I was bragging about him a few games into his first season. My brother in law and step son were laughing at me. Boy I can't wait to see them ! Lol
And we have another great defense man coming next year ! Mr Aitcheson!
As an isles fan, it's hard to out into words how exciting it is to see what he's been doing.
He's also 2nd on the team with a +9 and total points (tied with 2 others)
He is 18 and still not fully grown. Stop playing him so much, it's a recipe for disaster.
celebrini bedard and schaefer are giving me a lot of hope for the future of hockey. no better sport on the planet.
Watching the Islanders struggle to exit their defensive zone in the past few years used to be a form of torture that is banned under the Geneva Convention. That ended game 1 this season. Scheafer fixed that on his own and has even managed to repair the Islander power play where it used to be Matthew Barzal skating around aimlessly while his teammates tried to figure out what he was going to do. Now, there puck movement and players are no longer stationary trying to think of what to do. To say that one 18 year-old transformed this team is an understatement. I’m glad to see him get the recognition for what he has done and does night in and night out. I went from someone who got frustrated and turned off games early to staying tuned for the entire game regardless of score just to see what this kid can do. He’s going to be the best defenseman this team has ever had and that’s saying a lot because Potvin was amazing in his day. And watching videos like this help me to keep my sanity because I see him move like Bobby Orr before the knee injury, so I’m glad that others do too and the stat sheet backs it up.
Leave Bobby Orr out of comparison, he’s a pioneer
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!
Even skates kind of like Bobby Orr
Long suffering leaf fan here i gotta admit i thought the isles were taking a risk taking him #1 after only playing not many games last year. But just watching him play the way he does is every defencemans dream with his skating , smarts and confidence at barely 18
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Great video. Thanks very much for putting this together. I love this kid. Watching him reminds me a little bit of Al MacInnis. He’s always winding up his shot. It’s intimidating for goalies, to have the other team’s best shooter living rent free in your mind because they’re winding up to unload on you – even if or maybe especially if they don’t end up shooting and someone else does. That’s what chopper did. He put fear into goalies like Patrick Roy, at will. Chopper wasn’t that good coming out of the gate as a rookie. He found his way obviously. But Schaefer is absolutely mind blowing, doing dominant things like Drew Doughty as a rookie, and he’s wiry and stifling, extremely hard on the puck and very fast, like Patrick Kane. The kid is so unbelievably good already. It’s insane to think of what he will do.
I remember the drive for 5 cups. I was a young child but it was some intense hockey. I think the Islanders are back on the upside….