Tom Brady endorses Islanders rookie star Matthew Schaefer

Accolades for Matthew Schaefer have come from all corners of the NHL.

Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Mike Sullivan, Nick Leddy, Jon Cooper, Auston Matthews, Chris Pronger and Doug Armstrong, among others, have publicly praised the Islanders’ 18-year-old defenseman. They have raved about his game. His personality. His makeup.

Now he’s beginning to earn plaudits from outside the NHL.

Tom Brady endorsed Schaefer as the NHL player he would want to represent Nobull, the sportswear brand the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback co-owns with Mike Repole.

Tom Brady acknowledging Matthew Schaefer.

This is awesome. #Isles pic.twitter.com/C41Io8pyI5

— Isles Territory (@IslesTerritory) January 4, 2026

In a video posted to Nobull’s Instagram page Sunday, Brady is asked which NHL player would be the best fit for an endorsement deal. He thought for a moment, then lobbied for Schaefer.

“One player right now?” Brady said. “You know, I talked to this kid Matthew. This young guy. He kind of has that eye of the tiger. That look that I always had. Matthew Schaefer, [have] you heard of him? That’s who I want.”

The first overall pick in last June’s NHL Draft leads the Islanders in ice time at 23 minutes, 50 seconds per game. He is tied for second on the team in assists (16) and ranks third in goals (12) and points (28). He scored two goals — including the winner with 48.1 seconds left in overtime — in Saturday’s 4-3 triumph over Tavares and the Maple Leafs.

Earlier in the season, he became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to have a two-goal game — and then he did it again.

Schaefer also is the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score 10 goals and reach 25 points and the youngest player in NHL history to score in overtime.

Schaefer’s play is a key reason the Islanders (23-15-4) enter Tuesday night’s game against a floundering Devils squad (22-18-2) in second place in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind Carolina.

“I think it’s pretty evident when you watch the game how special he is,” defenseman Adam Pelech said after practice Monday morning at Northwell Health Ice Center.

“Everything he does is at such a high speed. His compete level is so high. I think everyone notices, but the way he defends. He defends so hard. He competes. He’s out there against the best players in the league every night and he’s winning battles. He’s working hard in the [defensive] zone. His two-way game has been super-impressive to me.”

That’s beginning to help bring fans out to the rink in Elmont. According to data culled by HockeyDB.com, the Islanders’ average home attendance through 23 games this season is 15,905. UBS Arena seats 17,255 for hockey.

Statistical information on industry website Hockey-reference.com shows that the Islanders have sold out their last six games on home ice and 10 overall in 2025-26.

Add all of the variables together, and it becomes clear why Brady made an argument for Schaefer, who also received an endorsement by Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

“I was pumped for him,’’ Pageau said. “I thought it was a cool moment. I think that’s the new hockey. That’s the new generation. That’s the new branding of the sport. And I think for a young guy he’s got it all, so I think he’s great for [the league].”

Notes & quotes: Schaefer (flu) did not practice and coach Patrick Roy said he will be a game-time decision. Goalie Ilya Sorokin will start Tuesday.