Matthew Schaefer’s exceptionally mature game in the NHL has exceeded all expectations

Very few 18-year-old defencemen play a full NHL season immediately after being drafted. Fortunately, Matthew Schaefer is no ordinary 18-year-old defenceman.

The New York Islanders’ first-overall pick in this past draft is off to a red-hot start to the season, with three goals and five assists through the first 10 games of his NHL career. Eclipsing the 10-game mark on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes also means that Schaefer will burn the first year of his entry-level contract, all but ensuring that he’ll be staying the year in Long Island.

Schaefer hasn’t just been scoring, either — he’s been impactful. Averaging 23 minutes per game for the Isles, the 6’2”, 185-pound defenceman has been taking on tough assignments, playing top power-play minutes while averaging 2 minutes a night on t