"I texted with Mathieu Darche... he just cannot believe how well he defends for an 18-year-old and what a great teammate he is,"
"They knew about the skating and offensive talent, but the Islanders are finding he is actually ahead of where even they had him."
"I still think that's a stretch,"
"They didn't take a teenage Sidney Crosby in 2006... It's not usually the kind of leap of faith Canada takes given their depth."
Matthew Schaefer, an 18-year-old defenseman, demonstrates advanced defensive skills and strong teammate qualities that exceed expectations. He combines elite skating and offensive talent with defensive play ahead of projections, placing him as an early Calder Trophy front-runner. A berth on Canada's 2026 Olympic team appears unlikely given Canada's historical reluctance to take teenagers and the preliminary list of roughly 90 names that likely did not include him. The NHL canceled the UBS Arena Olympic send-off event for logistical reasons, and the Islanders were awarded the 2027 All-Star weekend.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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