| March 1, 2026 |
Schaefer scored twice on five shots, added an assist, blocked four shots, went plus-4 and logged two PIM in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Panthers. - This was the first three-point game of Schaefer's career, and he also reached the 20-goal mark with the effort. Hitting 20 goals as a defenseman is already an impressive feat, and it's even more remarkable that he was able to do so as an 18-year-old rookie. He's now at 44 points, 146 shots, 84 blocks, 30 PIM and a plus-14 rating over 61 appearances. Schaefer's already a borderline No. 1 defenseman in standard fantasy formats, and he's only getting started. |
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| Feb. 27, 2026 |
Schaefer scored two goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canadiens. - With the Islanders down 2-0 midway through the second period, Schaefer took matters into his own hands to tie it up, scoring twice in 55 seconds before the second intermission. The teenage blueliner has lit the lamp five times in the last six games, and on the season the overwhelming Calder Trophy favorite has 18 goals and 41 points in his first 59 NHL contests -- setting a new Islanders record for goals in a season by a rookie defenseman in the process, and breaking the mark established in 1973-74 by Hall of Famer Denis Potvin. |
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| Feb. 3, 2026 |
Schaefer scored a goal on two shots, added an assist and blocked three shots in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins. - Schaefer has three goals and two assists over the last five contests. He tallied late in the first period and helped out on a Bo Horvat goal in overtime in this effort, which was Schaefer's first multi-point outing since Jan. 19 versus the Canucks. The 18-year-old blueliner is up to 16 goals and 39 points through 57 appearances, with both of those scoring marks ranking third among all rookies. He's added 137 shots on net, 76 blocks, 28 PIM, 26 hits and a plus-7 rating. At this pace, he could take a run at Brian Leetch's record for goals by a rookie defenseman (23 in 1988-89). |
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| Feb. 1, 2026 |
Schaefer scored a goal on three shots in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Predators. - Schaefer has scored in consecutive contests and has seven points over his last eight games. The 18-year-old defenseman continues to do his job well, and he's up to 15 goals and 37 points over 55 outings. He could take a run at the 20-goal and 50-point marks if he stays healthy for the rest of the season, which are incredible totals for a rookie blueliner. Schaefer has added 134 shots on net, 71 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating so far. |
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| Jan. 30, 2026 |
Schaefer scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Rangers. - Schaefer has a goal and an assist over the last two games, which followed a three-game slump. The 18-year-old defenseman has done an excellent job of limiting his quiet stretches as a rookie, and he's been steady defensively even if he doesn't chip in on offense. For the season, Schaefer is up to 14 goals, 36 points, 131 shots on net, 71 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating across 54 outings. |
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| Jan. 20, 2026 |
Schaefer recorded two assists in Monday's 4-3 win over the Canucks. - Schaefer has posted two assists in back-to-back games, and the 18-year-old continues to make a strong candidacy to win the Calder Trophy. He's cracked the scoresheet in six of his nine outings since the beginning of January, tallying nine points, a plus-1 rating, 16 shots, four hits and nine blocked shots. The 18-year-old blueliner ranks third in points among rookies with 34, trailing only Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke. |
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| Jan. 18, 2026 |
Schaefer pocketed two assists in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Flames. - The rookie blueliner tried to spark a comeback after the Islanders fell behind 4-0, having a hand in tallies by Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the second period and Anders Lee in the third. Schaefer continues to be the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy, and through eight games in January, he has delivered four goals and seven points. |
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| Jan. 13, 2026 |
Schaefer scored a goal in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Jets. - Schaefer has kept rolling in January with four goals and an assist over six games this month. The rookie defenseman reached the 30-point mark Tuesday (13 goals, 17 assists). He's added 116 shots on net, 63 blocked shots, 20 hits, 24 PIM and a plus-9 rating. He took some wear and tear in this contest, including getting pulled by the concussion spotter, but he was able to return and finished the game with 22:39 of ice time. |
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| Jan. 6, 2026 |
Schaefer (illness) will be in the lineup versus the Devils on Tuesday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. - Schaefer will avoid missing any game time after having been sidelined for Monday's practice session. Through 42 games this year, the rookie blueliner has registered 12 goals and 16 assists, including 13 power-play points, and is currently the favorite to take home the Calder Trophy at the end of the year. |
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| Jan. 5, 2026 |
Schaefer will not practice Monday due to an illness. - Schaefer was labeled as day-to-day by the team ahead of Tuesday's game versus the Devils. After a slow end to 2025 saw the young blueliner notch just two points in seven games from Dec. 16-30, he has bounced back with the flip of the calendar, generating three goals on five shots in two January contests. If Schaefer can't go Tuesday, Tony DeAngelo could see more responsibility with the No. 1 power-play unit. |
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| Jan. 3, 2026 |
Schaefer scored two goals Saturday, including the game winner, in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs. - Schaefer became the first defenseman in NHL history to record two multigoal games as an 18-year-old. Yes, that means he's done something that the great Bobby Orr, who debuted at 18 and won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, never did. Schaefer scored the OT winner exactly like Auston Matthews scored earlier in the game to set a franchise record for goals. He blew down the right side and went wide around the defender before waiting out Joseph Woll and sliding the puck past him. The teenager is on a three-game, four-point streak (three goals, one assist), and he sits in a three-way tie for 16th overall in scoring from the blue line with 28 points. Remarkably, Schaefer sits in a tie for third overall among defenders in goals (12). There simply aren't enough superlatives for this kid's performance. |
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| Jan. 1, 2026 |
Schaefer scored a power-play goal on three shots and added two PIM in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Mammoth. - While it was a lousy performance for the Islanders as a whole, Schaefer secured his 10th goal of the season. That puts him in a tie for fourth in goals among all blueliners this season, and he's tied for third in goals among all rookies. He had a decent December with six points in 14 outings, but it was his quietest month of the season so far. He's at 10 goals, 26 points (13 on the power play), 111 shots on net, 57 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating through 41 appearances. A 20-goal for a rookie defenseman would be incredibly special -- it's only happened three times in NHL history. Brian Leetch did it with 23 goals in 1988-89, while Barry Beck (22 goals in 1977-78) and Dion Phaneuf (20 goals in 2005-06) are the other two members of that elite club. Denis Potvin (17 goals in 1973-74) holds the Islanders record for goals by a rookie blueliner. |
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| Dec. 13, 2025 |
Schaefer scored a power-play goal in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay. - The Isles were on a 4-on-3 power play, and Schaefer took a return pass from Anthony Duclair in the slot and buried a wrist shot five-hole on Ilya Sorokin. Schaefer tied Rasmus Dahlin (nine in 2018-19 with Buffalo) and Zach Bogosian (nine in 2008-09 with Atlanta) for the NHL's third-highest single-season goal total by a defenseman age 18 or younger. |
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| Dec. 10, 2025 |
Schaefer distributed an assist and fired four shots on net in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout win over the Golden Knights. - Schaefer logged an assist on Bo Horvat's tally near the end of the first period to open the scoresheet for New York. With the helper, Schaefer is up to 14 assists, 22 points, 87 shots on goal and 40 blocks through 31 games this season. The young superstar has been consistent over the Islanders' recent stretch of games with a goal and six assists through the last eight contests. He will likely contend for the Calder Trophy against Montreal's Ivan Demidov throughout the rest of this season. Schaefer's ability to create goal-scoring opportunities from the blue line, alongside his heavy shot volume that ranks fourth among defensemen, makes him a must-roster defenseman in nearly all fantasy formats. |
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| Nov. 29, 2025 |
Schaefer scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers. - Schaefer ended his five-game point drought with an assist in a 3-1 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday. Now, he ended his six-game goal drought with a wrister at the 8:11 mark of the second period, giving him eight goals on the year. The frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, Schaefer has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) across 25 games this season while posting a solid plus-9 rating. |
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| Nov. 27, 2025 |
Schaefer recorded an assist and fired seven shots on goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins. - Schaefer picked up the secondary helper on Matthew Barzal's lone goal of the game for the Isles. With the apple, the 18-year-old Schaefer has nine assists, 16 points, 71 shots on goal and 27 blocks through 24 games this season. Wednesday's performance helped him end a five-game point drought and was his first assist since Nov. 13. Despite the recent lack of points, the No. 1 overall selection from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is at the heart of the Calder Trophy conversation alongside Montreal's Ivan Demidov. Schaefer has developed a well-rounded campaign with a plethora of shots, as he is tied for 24th across the league in attempts on goal. The rookie blueliner is a must-roster in fantasy with elite upside. |
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| Nov. 14, 2025 |
Schaefer scored the game-winning goal and added two PIM in Friday's 3-2 overtime win over the Mammoth. - Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Schaefer is the youngest player in NHL history to score a goal in overtime, besting a record held by Sidney Crosby by a mere 31 days. The legend of Schaefer continues to grow -- he's earned four points over his last three games and remains one of the Islanders' steadiest blueliners in all aspects of the game. He's up to seven goals, including two game-winners, and 15 points while adding 54 shots on net, 21 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating across 18 appearances this season. |
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| Nov. 13, 2025 |
Schaefer scored a power-play goal on four shots, dished an assist, added two hits and blocked two shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Golden Knights. - Schaefer has been consistent early in his career, though he snapped a four-game goal drought with his first-period tally Thursday. He's still earned six points over six outings in November already. The 18-year-old defenseman is up to six goals, 14 points (seven on the power play), 52 shots on net, 20 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating across 17 appearances. Schaefer is already looking like something special for the Islanders, so fantasy managers shouldn't hesitate to add him if he's available. |
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| Nov. 3, 2025 |
Schaefer scored two goals, including one on a power play, in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets. - The No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft continues to shine in his first season with the Islanders, as he scored with a man advantage in the first period before tying the game with just over a minute to go in regulation. With the pair of tallies, Schaefer is up to five goals, 10 points and 36 shots on net across 12 games this season. After experiencing a three-game point drought, Schaefer has three goals in as many games and is soaring up the point leaderboard for the Islanders. He remains firmly in the running to win this season's Calder Trophy alongside Montreal's Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes. Schaefer's offensive capabilities from the blue line give him a case to be rostered in nearly all fantasy formats. |
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| Oct. 30, 2025 |
Schaefer scored a power-play goal Thursday in a 6-2 loss to the Hurricanes. - It came on a wrist shot from the left point through traffic. Schaefer continues to astound the league with his impressive skills -- it's hard to remember that he turned 18 at the start of September. Yes, that's correct. Schaefer has three goals and five assists in 10 games on the island. He has 31 shots, and four of his points, including two goals, have come with the man advantage. |
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| Oct. 23, 2025 |
Schaefer was plus-2 in 25:14 of ice time Thursday against the Red Wings. - Schaefer's season-opening point streak ended at six games (two goals, five assists). It was tied for the longest point streak to start a career by a defenseman in NHL history. Schaefer is for real. Wow. |
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| Oct. 22, 2025 |
Schaefer scored a goal and added an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Sharks. - The 18-year-old defenseman continues to turn heads with his play and extended his point streak to six games with his goal in the second period. Schaefer has two goals and five helpers through his first six games in the NHL. He has three points on the power play and has logged at least 20 minutes of ice time in four of his last five outings. The first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft continues to impress, and it seems his role will only grow as the season progresses. |
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| Oct. 18, 2025 |
Schaefer notched an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Senators. - Schaefer is the youngest player in NHL history to start his career with a five-game point streak, per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. In his first five games, Schaefer has accumulated a goal, four assists, 15 shots on net, four blocked shots, two hits and a minus-1 rating. The 18-year-old continues to impress, and he's bordering on must-have status in fantasy. |
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| Oct. 13, 2025 |
Schaefer dished out an assist, had four shots on net and recorded a blocked shot in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Jets. - Schaefer's hot start to the season continued Monday as he tallied a secondary helper on Emil Heineman's goal late in the second period. With the assist, Schaefer has two helpers and a goal across his first three career games. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft has been a spark for New York's offense despite the team's 0-3-0 record. He once again logged over 26 minutes of ice time, which will skyrocket his fantasy value if the trend continues. The Islanders' trust in Schaefer, along with his early involvement in the offensive zone, make Schaefer worth a roster spot in almost all fantasy formats. He is one of the top waiver wire candidates on all fantasy hockey platforms. |
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| Oct. 12, 2025 |
Schaefer tallied a goal, had eight shots on net, and blocked a shot in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Washington. - The future of Long Island hockey has arrived, and his name is Matthew Schaefer. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft posted a breakout performance in just his second career game with solid category coverage. He stole the show in the third period, netting his first career goal on a power play. Not only was his stat line complete with eight shots and one block, but his ice time jumped from 17:15 to 26:04, a near nine-minute increase from his debut. The 18-year-old has seemed to gain more trust offensively with 2:40 of power-play time, which gives him a high ceiling for his rookie campaign. He also logged over seven minutes of ice time more than any other defenseman on the team, making him the clear top option among Islanders' blueliners in fantasy. If Schaefer's first two games are any indication of what the rest of the season has in store for this year's top pick, he is set to be a great option on the fantasy blue line in all formats. Scoop him up off the waiver wire before it is too late. |
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| Oct. 10, 2025 |
Schaefer recorded an assist in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Penguins. - Schaefer set up Jonathan Drouin's goal at 12:02 of the first period. It's a positive start for the 2025 No. 1 pick, as Schaefer saw 17:15 of ice time in a third-pairing role. He's the lone youngster on the Islanders' blue line, but he could move up the ranks if he continues to play well. Any top pick will get attention in fantasy -- don't overlook Schaefer, as he should be productive on offense as long as he avoids head coach Patrick Roy's doghouse as a rookie. |
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| Oct. 6, 2025 |
Schaefer will make his NHL debut against Pittsburgh on Thursday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. - The Islanders selected Schaefer with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He cracked the team's Opening Night roster out of training camp and should see some power-play action during his regular-season debut. The talented blueliner earned two assists and eight shots on goal in four outings during the Islanders' exhibition schedule. |
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