Islanders' Matthew Schaefer could use much-needed break during Olympics
Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders shoots the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Matthew Schaefer is always a whirlwind of energy, a potent blending of youth at 18 and a naturally effervescent, upbeat personality. The combination has fueled a brilliant start to his NHL career with highlight days such as Saturday, when he shook off Max Domi’s hard stick check to his ribs with two goals, one as he engaged his hyperdrive with a blinding rush to the net and then in overtime for a 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs at UBS Arena.
But even the Energizer Bunny needs downtime.
Which is why Schaefer being left off Team Canada’s initial 25-man roster for next month’s Olympics in Italy is the best possible thing for both Schaefer and the Islanders.
If Schaefer is not needed as an injury replacement, he’ll have almost two weeks off to recuperate and recharge his mental batteries as he tries to navigate the 82-game NHL season — made even more challenging with its condensed nature before and after the Olympics to accommodate the shutdown — for the first time.
“The time to rest is key whether it’s for your body or your mental health,” Schaefer said. “It’s always nice to go back home and get some time off, rest and maybe go away. If anyone would get the chance [to play in the Olympics], they’d take it. But time is super-key in such a quick season. You’re playing games every other day and a lot of back-to-backs.”
Even his father, Todd, in a recent TV interview with CBC in Canada, opined, “He’s climbing these mountains. Does he really need to climb this one at 18? Can we wait a few years? There’s nothing wrong with having three weeks off to come home and be an 18-year-old kid.”
It’s sometimes so easy to forget that’s exactly what Schaefer is, particularly because of the mature way he’s always handled himself and treated others.
And then, sometimes, Schaefer reminds us.
Such as when he was asked about briefly heading down the tunnel to have the medical staff examine him after Domi’s hard third-period hit just three minutes before Schaefer scored by blowing past defenseman Morgan Rielly at 11:10.
“I got a shot to the ribs there,” Schaefer said. “I’m 18, and sometimes I feel like it’s broken when it’s really just a little soft touch. I’ve got to get a little tougher there. But I think I just lost my wind and needed a couple of seconds to regroup.”
Schaefer has not missed a game, even more reason why the upcoming Olympic break will be more beneficial to him if it’s actually a break.
Right now, with Team Sweden passing over forwards Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom, Bo Horvat (Team Canada) is the lone Islander selected for an Olympic squad.
That’s in stark contrast with many other NHL teams.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion Panthers and the Lightning both have nine players on Olympic rosters. The Avalanche, this season’s Cup favorite, have eight players going, including former Islanders Brock Nelson and Devon Toews, as do the Wild and Devils. The Bruins, Golden Knights and Stars each have six participants.
Chicago is the only other team with just one player selected.
So it will be very interesting to see how these teams with many multiple Olympians respond when they return to the NHL schedule.
It’s not always an easy transition.
The Rangers had 10 Olympians in 2006, including Henrik Lundqvist, then a rookie, who backstopped Team Sweden to the gold. The Rangers went into the Olympic break with a 35-15-8 record. They went 9-11-4 afterward and were swept in the first round by the Devils.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy knows how difficult it can be.
The Hall of Fame goalie played every minute of all six games for Team Canada in the 1998 Nagano Games, the first Olympics with NHL participation. Team Canada did not medal, losing to the Czech Republic in the semifinals and to Finland in the bronze-medal game despite Roy’s 1.46 goals-against average.
When NHL play resumed, his Avalanche, who finished first in the Pacific Division and were seeded second in the Western Conference, lost a seven-game first-round series to the seventh-seeded Oilers.
“My intensity was my trademark,” Roy said. “So it took a lot of juice from me going there. When I came back, for some reason, it was hard for me to go high and then low and then back up. I didn’t really have a good playoffs that year.”
Roy’s Islanders certainly have high postseason aspirations. And Schaefer is crucial for the post-Olympic playoff push.
The kid needs his rest.
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.
