"Think about it - age, contract, ceiling. Schaefer checks every box. He's not just good; he's a unicorn. You can find elite forwards - McDavid, MacKinnon, Draisaitl - but they're in their mid-to-late 20s, expensive, and already at or near their peak. Schaefer? He's barely old enough to rent a car, makes league minimum, and already plays like one of the best defensemen in the league."
"Even the other young stars - Macklin Celebrini, Cutter Gauthier, Will Smith, whoever you want to name - don't bring what Schaefer does. He tilts the ice, controls tempo, kills plays before they start, and somehow looks like he's playing half-speed while everyone else scrambles to catch up. The best part? He's not even close to done growing. The confidence, the hockey IQ, the poise - it already has flashes of elite status. And every night, it gets a little better."
Matthew Schaefer is an 18-year-old New York Islanders defenseman with fewer than 20 NHL games who already projects as a franchise cornerstone. His combination of youth, a team-friendly contract and significant upside creates exceptional long-term value compared with established elite players. Schaefer controls tempo, tilts the ice, kills plays early and appears calm and efficient in high-level minutes. His confidence, hockey IQ and poise show flashes of elite status and continue to improve nightly. For teams building toward the next decade, Schaefer offers immediate impact and sustained upside at minimal cost.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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