Andrew Gross: Islanders' Matthew Schaefer keeps proving his greatness
Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders skates with the puck during the second period against the Calgary Flames at UBS Arena on March 14, 2026 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
It should never be taken for granted exactly what Matthew Schaefer is doing this season for the Islanders. It’s no longer satisfactory to simply identify him as the NHL’s best rookie. At 18, Schaefer is already one of the league’s better players.
But, if another reminder was needed, two were given on Tuesday night as the Islanders faced Chicago at UBS Arena.
First, the lefthanded Schaefer played a second game on his off-side paired with fellow lefty Adam Pelech after seamlessly sliding over in Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets to compensate for right-hander Ryan Pulock’s absence because of a lower-body injury.
Turns out, that wasn’t a new tool for Schaefer’s NHL toolbox, just an old one he dusted off.
“When I grew up playing minor hockey, I was only playing on the right side because there’s more lefties than righties,” Schaefer said. “When I went to the [Ontario Hockey League] I started to play my left because there were a lot more righties. I learned my left again even though I always loved playing on my right. It almost felt weird playing on my left because I played on my right so much growing up. Now I feel amazing on my left.”
Second, Schaefer’s immediate success coming out of Canadian junior hockey as the first overall pick could be compared/contrasted to third overall pick Anton Frondell, the Swedish forward who made his NHL debut for Chicago against the Islanders after taking a more normal route for an 18-year-old.
Chicago had Frondell develop this season with Djurgardens IF as a rookie in the Swedish Hockey League, where he was a linemate of Islanders first-rounder Victor Eklund.
The two provided some production for Djurgardens with Frondell notching 20 goals and eight assists in 43 games and Eklund compiling six goals and 18 assists in the same 43 matches. Eklund has already signed his entry-level contract with the Islanders and is expected to follow Frondell to North America and join the Islanders’ organization this week.
“He’s a hard-working guy,” Frondell said of his linemate and close friend. “I don’t think I’ve seen someone work as hard as him and he likes to compete as much. He’s not that big, not that heavy [but] he runs over guys.”
It wasn’t until Djurgardens’ season ended on Saturday that Chicago told Frondell he would come to North America to finish the season in the NHL. The small taste this season should pay benefits for Frondell and Chicago next season.
Of course, by then, Schaefer should be a legitimate Norris Trophy candidate as the league’s top defenseman.
“It still feels like a dream being here,” Frondell said after Chicago’s morning skate, acknowledging it took him “a while to understand the game” playing against veterans in the Swedish league.
Asked about Schaefer, Frondell said, “He’s a good guy and he’s been really good this year. It’s fun to meet him again. The last time I saw him was at the draft [June 27-28 in Los Angeles].”
Schaefer entered Tuesday’s match with 22 goals and 29 assists having played all 71 games. He needed one goal to match Hall of Famer Phil Housley’s NHL record for rookie defensemen.
During last week’s Canadian road trip, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman (and seventh-youngest player) to reach 50 points in NHL history and also set an Islanders’ team record for rookie defensemen with his eighth power-play goal.
The records and milestones have come rapid-fire for Schaefer, which is why it might be easy to take this all for granted.
Not that it should be.
Against the Blue Jackets, not only did Schaefer effortlessly slide to his off-side and log a team-high 26:43 but, without Pulock available, he was on the ice for the final 2:59 successfully protecting the one-goal lead with the Blue Jackets skating six-on-five.
“It’s kind of funny but I think nobody even noticed just because he played the same way, which was probably a good sign,” fourth-liner Kyle MacLean told Newsday about Schaefer playing on the right. “It seemed like he was as comfortable as ever. You could say it about anything in his game. It’s just impressive he’s doing it as an 18-year-old and just kind of seamless. He just does his thing out there, left side, right side, any situation. He doesn’t really waver or falter. He’s electric out there.”
That could very well be how Frondell is described in future seasons.
He has that chance.
Right now, though, Frondell’s NHL inexperience just emphasizes how special Schaefer’s season has been.
Never take that for granted.
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.
