As Matthew Schaefer develops, so too are opposing game plans

Sprinkled into every conversation with Matthew Schaefer is the acknowledgement of the hard work yet to come. He said it at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo in early June and after the Islanders selected him first overall later that month in Los Angeles.

Schaefer repeated it through the summer prospect development camp, rookie camp, training camp, preseason and now through his spectacular first three games in the NHL, albeit all losses for the Islanders .

He has certainly held up his end of the bargain in terms of meeting that challenge. But now it could get very interesting to track his learning curve. The rest of the NHL was certainly aware of his immense skills — skating and playmaking in particular — before the regular season started. Now there’s game tape and opponents will begi