Andrew Gross: It's always a treat when the Islanders' Matthew Schaefer and the Sharks' Macklin Celebrini face each other
The Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, left, and the San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini. Credit: Brad Penner; AP / Abbie Parr
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Sometimes, it’s OK for all of us to step back from the analysis and the intense dissection of the small details and the overall picture and just be hockey fans. To appreciate the skill and the potential for future greatness.
Monday night at SAP Center marked the third time two of the NHL’s brightest young stars, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 19, and Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini, 20, have played against each other.
Here’s to many more, even with interconference matches limited to two per season in the 84-game schedule.
“I think we’re all hockey fans deep down,” Islanders coach Pete DeBoer said. “To be able to see two, young, generational players like that playing against each other, I think that’s special. It doesn’t happen very often. We all talk about the next great player coming up but these two guys really are in a category that I haven’t seen in my time in the league at the same time.”
Remember, this is DeBoer’s 19th season as an NHL coach. He’s seen his share of really good young players. But not two together like this.
“That’s not disrespect to any of the players that have come into the league,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, [the Oilers’ Connor] McDavid was in that category. But it wasn’t a forward and a defenseman basically the same age coming in like that and making the impact that they’ve made on their respective franchises as early as they have.”
“It’s pretty cool,” Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau told Newsday. “It’s two players that are extremely gifted and talented. They work so hard every shift and they want the puck. They want to be part of the offense. They defend hard. They do everything so well.”
Beyond the elite skating and playmaking abilities, Schaefer and Celebrini both have leadership skills and personalities their teams can market. Schaefer is one of the Islanders alternate captains.
Schaefer entered Monday’s match with five goals and 11 assists in 16 games while Celebrini had seven goals and 14 assists in 17 matches.
Celebrini has already played for Team Canada in the Olympics this February in Italy – with DeBoer as one of the team’s assistants – and he’ll likely be Olympic teammates with Schaefer in 2030 in the French Alps.
“It would be an honor to represent your country and it’s definitely far down the road and I want to keep improving my game,” Schaefer said. “He’s obviously a great player. It was cool to see what he was able to do at the Olympics. So, yeah, down the road it would be awesome.”
Last season, each scored a goal as the Islanders beat the Sharks, 4-3, at UBS Arena on Oct. 21, 2025, and Celebrini had a goal and Schaefer notched an assist in the Islanders' 2-1 overtime win in San Jose on March 7.
Also tying the two together is the five-year, $94 million extension Celebrini signed on July 29, which will kick in after his entry-level deal expires following this season. The $18.8 million average annual value sets a salary-cap bar for Schaefer’s upcoming deal.
Schaefer, in the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract, is eligible to sign an extension on July 1. He won’t come cheap no matter how much Schaefer professes to love playing for the Islanders and the five-year term is likely a good barometer for what Schaefer will want.
The Islanders, of course, will push for him to sign a seven-year extension.
“It’s a well-deserved deal for him,” Schaefer said. “He had a great year last year and this year, he’s having a great year too so far. You see it and obviously it’s a big number.”
Celebrini is from North Vancouver, British Columbia while Schaefer hails from Hamilton, Ontario so they did not grow up playing much against each other.
But they have become acquaintances.
Schaefer said he met Celebrini for the first time in Toronto during his draft year of 2025. Celebrini was in town with the Sharks to play and Schaefer sought him out for a quick meet-and-greet.
This year, the two worked together on promotional spots for Tim Hortons, including one with the Panthers’ Brad Marchand knocking on their trailer door, introducing himself as their biggest fans and seeking autographs.
“He’s a good guy,” Schaefer said of Celebrini. “We hit it off right away, having fun. We’re both meant to play hockey. That’s our job. It’s nice when you can get away from the rink and just be a kid. So it was fun to hit it off with him and have some fun.”
And that’s how everybody should approach it when the two play. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy their skills being on the ice at the same time.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
