"The physical toll has been real. Schaefer admitted that the body doesn't feel the same every morning anymore - not with games every other night, back-to-backs, and constant travel. Some days feel good. Others don't. The adjustment, he's learning, is about managing the lows as much as enjoying the highs. "You just push through it," he said. "Doing the little things - in the gym, off the ice, recovery, nutrition - that's how you keep yourself as close to 100 percent as you can.""
"That learning curve isn't just physical. Mentally, Schaefer is adapting to nightly matchups against the best players in the world. One shift it's Sidney Crosby, another, like tonight, it's Auston Matthews. "When you're in the game, you're just trying to shut them down," Schaefer said. "If you do that, you're doing your job." Having supportive teammates has eased the transition."
Matthew Schaefer, an 18-year-old New York Islanders rookie defenseman, is experiencing the relentless pace and thin margins of an NHL season. The physical toll from frequent games, back-to-backs and travel means mornings often feel different and recovery becomes crucial. Schaefer focuses on gym work, off-ice routines, nutrition and other small habits to maintain performance. Mentally, nightly matchups against elite players require concentration and a shutdown mindset. Support from teammates like Mathew Barzal has eased the transition, while Schaefer emphasizes personal discipline, continual improvement and the value of rest to reset and recover.
Read at Eyes On Isles
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]