The New York Islanders have been riding a wave of excitement, but rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has taken the energy to a historic level. Just months after being selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Schaefer is not only adjusting to the NHL but surpassing milestones set by legends like Sidney Crosby, leaving a mark that few players achieve so early in their careers.

Friday night’s contest against the Utah Mammoth was another showcase for Schaefer’s emerging talent. With the game tied in overtime, he ripped a shot off a short pass from Mathew Barzal, beating goalie Karel Vejmelka and securing the 4-3 victory.

“I think that the second and third periods we wanted to come out hard,” Schaefer said, according to NHL.com. “We got a great bounce there to tie us up and then we fough

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