Andrew Gross: Marveling at Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, who has everyone talking
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders controls the puck in the first period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Islanders were the topic of discussion on WFAN as I turned off the radio just after midnight. And when I tuned back in early Friday morning, the team and, specifically, Matthew Schaefer again were being discussed.
Not sure if this counts as a detailed data analysis, but, combing through the personal historical spreadsheets stored solely among the cobwebs in my brain, that’s the first time I can remember that happening. Hockey rarely is radio sports-talk fodder in this market.
So it’s time, yet again, to marvel at all things Schaefer as the uber-talented 18-year-old defenseman with the humble yet outsized personality continues to be The Story this season for New York hockey and, perhaps, for the whole New York sports scene.
Newsday reported in November while delving into the potential for marketing Schaefer that industry experts believe he could elevate the Islanders’ brand to equal or greater footing than the Rangers.
“As the team continues to jell and we continue to watch him grow as a player on the ice, I think all eyes will be on the Isles,” Heidi Browning, the NHL’s chief marketing officer, said then.
Who knew that day would come so quickly?
The Islanders were off on Friday after completing a home-and-home sweep of the Rangers, 2-1, on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. That, in turn, completed their four-game season-series sweep in which they outscored the Rangers 14-3 and did not trail at any point in the four matches.
So they’ll bring a three-game winning streak into Saturday night’s game against the Predators at UBS Arena.
Schaefer scored what proved to be the winner on Thursday with a blistering wrist shot at 18:53 of the second period for his 14th goal of the season.
His play already has drawn comparisons to other current elite defensemen, notably Cale Makar of the Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Wild. Islanders coach Patrick Roy brought up one from another era.
“It reminds me of the wrister by [Hall of Famer] Ray Bourque,” said Roy, who played against Bourque when the defenseman was a Bruin and was his teammate with the Avalanche. “Ray always kept it just above the pad, that was his thing. And now [Schaefer] seems to do the same thing as Ray.”
It’s at the point that every goal, every assist, launches Schaefer even higher into the NHL’s historical hierarchy.
As detailed by team statistician Eric Hornick:
* Schaefer passed Hall of Famer Bobby Orr (1966-67) for the second-most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. Hall of Famer Phil Housley had 17 in 1982-83.
* Schaefer tied Tim Connolly’s franchise record for goals by an 18-year-old, which he set in the 1999-2000 season. He tied Vladimir Malakhov (1992-93) for second in Islanders history for goals by a rookie defenseman. Hall of Famer Denis Potvin had 17 in 1973-74.
* Schaefer tied the NHL mark of Rasmus Dahlin (2018-19) with four game-winning goals as an 18-year-old defenseman. Schaefer can tie Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Laine and Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL record of five game-winning goals by an 18-year-old, regardless of position.
* Schaefer’s four game-winners are tied for second on the Islanders’ all-time list for defensemen with Potvin, who set the team record with six winners in 1977-78.
“Saying all those names, it’s crazy because they’re going to go down as some of the best defensemen to ever play,” Schaefer said. “Obviously, Potvin playing for the Islanders is pretty cool. Everyone knows him. He’s created a great legacy with the Islanders. You don’t really think about it that much, but when those names pop up and you hear those names, it’s an honor to be with those guys and see what they’ve done.”
Schaefer, savvy to what Islanders fans want to hear and also heavily invested in the Islanders’ legacy, said when he was drafted that he was looking forward to beating the Rangers.
Doing it in all four games as a rookie just adds to the legend he already has created.
“Coming to play for the Islanders, I know there’s that big rivalry,” Schaefer said. “Every game from here on out is a playoff game. It’s a big win for us. We want to beat them every time and we want to keep on doing that because I know it makes us happy. I know it makes our fans happy and we get two points out of it, so it’s fun.”
It’s transformative is what it is. Just turn on the radio for proof.
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.
