Matthew Schaefer is riding the wave to the Calder Trophy
Photo courtesy of Andrew NYR/Wikimedia Commons
After a record-breaking first month in the NHL, defenseman Matthew Schaefer is already turning heads with the New York Islanders, earning Rookie of the Month honors and emerging as a leading candidate for the Calder.
Matthew Schaefer, the New York Islanders’ star rookie, has been making a name for himself in the National Hockey League (NHL). Since signing his rookie contract, Schaefer has been making history night in and out and is by far one of the top candidates for the Calder Trophy—awarded to the league’s top rookie—just one month into the season.
The 18-year-old defenseman was drafted first overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft. Going number one overall comes with hefty expectations in any sport; for the Islanders, a player like Schaefer is the cornerstone to the long haul of rebuilding and returning to playoff contention.
Statistically speaking, the kid has got it. In just 12 games, he has racked up 10 points, with five goals and five assists, and averages a total on-ice time of 21 minutes and 56 seconds per game. To add to his stellar start, this past Sunday, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history with a multigoal game, surpassing the great Hall of Famer Bobby Orr.
Beyond just the stat sheet, Schaefer is insane. According to NHL Edge, he ranks in the 98th percentile for max skating speed at 22.93 miles per hour and in the 89th percentile for hardest shot at 93.91 mph. These numbers for a seasoned NHL defenseman are impressive; now put these numbers to a face like Schaefer, we are talking about something rare.
With performances like that, it is not surprising that Schaefer was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October. This award makes Schaefer the seventh Islanders player and first defenseman in franchise history to receive the title. The last Islander to receive this honor was forward Mathew Barzal in 2018.
As for the Calder Trophy, it is a two-man race, if that. The only other player that has come close to Schaefer so far is Montreal Canadien right-wing, Ivan Demidov. After this past weekend, Demidov is tied with Schaefer, earning three goals and seven assists in 12 games, while averaging only 13 minutes and 59 seconds of on-ice time. While Demidov’s numbers so far are impressive, they are nowhere near Schaefer’s all-around play and potential.
One would think “heavy is the head that wears the crown,” but Schaefer has handled the notorious pressure of the number one draft pick remarkably well. Following training camp before the start of the season, Schaefer spoke to The Hockey News, saying, “Pressure is a privilege…Not many kids get this opportunity. And you don't want to take it for granted or anything. You just want to go out there, work hard, put your head down, get your mind set, and get ready to work. So, just go out there and have fun.”
Schaefer has single handedly reinvigorated hockey on Long Island. His arrival has reshaped the team’s trajectory, especially considering that fans are hungry to see the playoffs again. The Islanders have not made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2024, but with Schaefer anchoring the blue line, that drought feels like it is about to end.
Although just a month into the 2025-26 NHL season, Schaefer’s rookie start is already looking like he is going to be the type of player with the potential to change a franchise. With his skill, speed, and composure, he is not only giving Islanders fans something to believe in again, but is staking his claim as the frontrunner in the Calder Trophy race. If this is just the beginning, we may be witnessing the rise of a generational talent.