Patrick Roy and Matthew Schaefer: A Rising Star Under a Legendary Coach
MONTREAL – Matthew Schaefer received a rockstar welcome Thursday morning at the Bell Centre. But, much like everything he does this season, he handled it with remarkable poise. At 18 years old, Schaefer’s comfort level is both unsettling and impressive, even for his teammates and coaches.
The only reminder that Schaefer is still a young adult sometimes comes through his endearing questions. “Sometimes, he asks questions like ‘Is my pork cooked enough, is my steak cooked enough?’,” chuckled Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
The 33-year-old veteran, with 847 NHL games under his belt, says Schaefer is unlike any young player he’s ever encountered. “No, he’s incredible. As I said, he’s a phenomenon, it’s fun to watch him. He’s very mature for his age. At 18, I was in junior, I wasn’t even close to being here,” Pageau exclaimed.
Roy on Schaefer: A Privilege and a Surprise
Head coach Patrick Roy considers himself fortunate to have inherited such a talent. However, he admits Schaefer is exceeding expectations, even those of the club’s management. “First, it’s the quality of the individual, he has such a wonderful personality, very humble. For the success he’s having, we’re all a little surprised, considering he’d only played between 15 to 20 games (16 to be precise) last season. It’s impressive to see him play at this level in such a strong league, it’s a testament to him,” Roy praised.
Roy inevitably reflected on his own early career, having also excelled when thrust into the spotlight. “In my case, when I started at 20, I was a bit naive. So maybe it’s the same for him. But I believe his maturity allows him to achieve this success,” Roy observed.
Maturity Beyond Years
Schaefer’s maturity is striking, as is his talent. He claims he wasn’t awestruck by the NHL. “Not really. I’ve just been learning things. Once your first game is over, you feel better with each game. Of course, it’s different, you grow watching these players, they’re the best,” he shared, looking forward to playing at the Bell Centre.
However, Schaefer doesn’t pretend to be a seasoned veteran. “I like bringing that youthfulness to the group. Sometimes, I’m still a kid having fun and teasing others. I’m still fascinated by flights on chartered planes, I was more used to driving to the arena with my parents,” noted the sublime skater, who lost his mother in 2024.
During the Olympic break, Schaefer made sure to return home and spend time with friends to stay grounded. When asked if he truly was 18, teammate Martin McGuire joked about his age. Remarkably, Schaefer will still be 18 when the Islanders begin training camp this fall, hoping for a big “19” on his birthday cake.
Roy Doesn’t Need to Shield Him
What’s most impressive is that Schaefer has already established himself as a formidable defensive weapon. Despite his youth, Roy doesn’t feel the need to protect him by shielding him from the opposition’s top players. “Everyone sees his offensive qualities, but his defensive qualities are so good. With our hybrid defensive system, it allows him to quickly pressure the puck carrier and initiate that offensive transition,” Roy explained, highlighting Ryan Pulock’s contribution as Schaefer’s defensive partner.
“When you face the best opposing players, they’ll try to capitalize on every shift. You have to react well, but it helps to win when you neutralize the best opposing lines,” Schaefer responded, understanding the challenge.
In 58 games this season, Schaefer has 39 points (16 goals and 23 assists) and averages 24:05 of ice time – the 18th highest in the entire NHL. Among rookies, he leads the league by nearly 4 minutes per game!
Having established himself as a true leader for the Islanders, it would be a surprise if the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year, eludes him. Schaefer acknowledged the talent of Ivan Demidov, also in contention, but reiterated his focus on the playoffs.
Last season, Lane Hutson, the Calder recipient, experienced a slump before the Four Nations Confrontation. Schaefer managed to avoid that pitfall.
Looking at this picture, one wonders if any moment can be “too big” for Schaefer. “I don’t think so,” Roy affirmed. “We played at Madison Square Garden. Of course, his first game, against Toronto, was an important one for him (being from Hamilton) and he rose to the occasion beautifully (with two goals).”
Schaefer shouldn’t be intimidated by the atmosphere at the Bell Centre, and is expected to deliver a thrilling duel against the Canadiens.
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