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What makes Matthew Schaefer an elite defenseman?
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

What makes Matthew Schaefer an elite defenseman?

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff  |  By Steven Ellis  |  Last updated Mar 18, 2026 1:11 PM ET

The role of an NHL defenseman is getting redefined in real time.

We’ve seen a few high-quality defenders coming into the NHL known more for their puck play than their own-zone awareness. Montreal’s Lane Hutson is a prime example – and, soon, his brother, Cole, will join in his footsteps. It’s said that a good defense is a stellar offense – the other team can’t score if they don’t have the puck. And as blueliners continue to dominate with their skill, it’s showing how important puck possession really is.

“It feels like there’s an acceptance of this offensive defenseman that, ‘You know what? We’re going to defer to their offense,'” former NHLer John Michael Liles recently said on Morning Cuppa Hockey. “It used to be that you had to play defense first, and then you could play offense. Now it’s more like, you do you, you be offensive.”

So, when someone like New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer comes along, scores 20 goals and still puts up some solid defensive metrics, it’s hard not to be amazed. He’s on track to become a rare 18-year-old defenseman to win the Calder Trophy. He’d also become the second blueliner in a row to take home the honor after Hutson did so with a stellar 66-point campaign a year ago.

Fewer than 70 games into his NHL career, many believe Schaefer is one of the best blueliners in the league. Sure, his game is defensively flawed still, but you’d expect that from an 18-year-old. Especially one who missed more than half his draft season and still went straight to the NHL. But Schaefer’s development has been stunning to watch since going first overall to the Erie Otters in the 2023 OHL Draft.

Schaefer’s OHL rookie season exposed some processing issues, though. He scored just three goals and registered 17 points in 56 games, with scouts noting that he often struggled with the pace of play. But once he figured it out, he couldn’t be stopped. And nothing showed that more than his play at the 2024 U-18 World Championship. Despite being an underager, Schaefer was one of Canada’s most important players, playing 20 minutes a night en route to a gold medal. That set the stage for him at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup a few months later, where he played some of the best two-way hockey we’ve seen from a defenseman in tournament history.

Despite him playing fewer than 20 OHL games last year, scouts loved him. Even Owen Power played more league games in his 2021 draft year, and that season was heavily impacted by COVID. But Schaefer’s natural ability was something very few defenders had shown in recent memory. Now, it’s something teams are looking to replicate all the time.

“If someone is coming at him hard, he knows exactly what to do to buy more time,” Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner said. “He also has the ability to make dynamic plays, stretch passes, etc. But even though he has the ability to likely make the play every time, he is so good at knowing when to push the pace and when to slow it down and hold onto it. I know the analytics probably have him with a ton of turnovers, as you see with many players who possess at that rate. But it’s surprising when you see him turn a puck over.

“He’s so smart that it comes so naturally. I think he’s on autopilot.”

Truly, autopilot is the best way to describe Schaefer’s play. He can move well in any direction, and he uses that to drive his offense. Schaefer can rush the puck in with his high-end speed, and he has the hockey sense to let the rest do the work. He’s always moving and trying to make plays happen at both ends of the ice, and he’s got the awareness and poise to be a top unit power-play quarterback. So, you pair elite-level skating with some of the best hands and decision-making of any young player, and you’ve got as close to a perfect defenseman as you’ll find.

“I think a young kid coming in the league like this, to be able to do what he’s doing, you have to have a very high hockey IQ,” Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “And you’ve got to have ability, which he has. His skating ability is off the charts.”

What exactly is hockey IQ? It’s essentially the ability to read plays quickly, adapt on the fly, and handle decisions under pressure. Many players can shoot or defend, but if you can’t predict plays in real time or outthink your opponents in 1-on-1 situations, you won’t become a true difference-maker. And that’s what makes Schaefer so fascinating. Every pass he makes feels calculated. He knows when to bail on a play and when it’s best for him to take control instead. Schaefer is always processing and seemingly in control.

“Not everybody has it, right?” Berube said. “So they’re not going to get it probably for the most part. That’s why structure and predictability is so important for a lot of players. [Some players] can’t go out and make something happen or do something differently because they just don’t have the IQ to do it a lot of times.”

What is it about his skating that makes him dangerous? According to NHL EDGE data, Schaefer leads all defenders in the 20-22 MPH bracket with 203 instances this season – nobody is even close to 200. He’s second in the 18-20 bracket behind Hutson (528) at 521. Schaefer is first in the 22+ category at 33. That consistency in all these different speed brackets allows him to blast by just about anyone. He’s also sixth in total miles skated at 241.55 while averaging 8.88 per 60.

“Guys are a lot bigger, stronger, and faster,” Schaefer said ahead of his homecoming game against the Leafs. “So whether [Connor] McDavid’s coming down, or a guy that’s a little bit heavier and can really lay his body into you, you’ve got to know who’s on the ice at all times and definitely have your head up. Because guys are coming for you all the time, and you don’t want to get clipped with a bad hit or anything like that.”

Offensively, we know Schaefer is a machine. He’s fourth in goals-per-60 among defenders with at least 50 games played at 0.45. He’s second behind Zach Werenski in goals above expected at 7.6. Schaefer has also drawn more penalties than any other blueliner in the NHL at 64. Basically, opponents have to constantly hook or trip him to slow him down. Schaefer is essentially a fourth forward for the Islanders, and the team seems to play with that knowledge at the forefront. He’s in the top 10 in high-danger and mid-range shots among defenders, and he loves to rush the puck up the ice any time he can. Most importantly, the puck is in the offensive zone more often than it isn’t when he’s out there.

Schaefer owns a 3.2 wins above replacement rating, which is good for third among all NHL defenders. For as good as Hutson was (he’s a huge reason why the Habs made the playoffs last year), he only had a 1.67. So think about Hutson’s impact a year ago – Schaefer has been even better overall. That’s what makes him special.

“He’s been a leader on our team, even at 18 years old. So it’s pretty impressive what he’s been doing,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy told Toronto-based media on Tuesday.

“He has helped our team tremendously. The way he’s jumping in the rush, closing on teams defensively, it’s nice to see a young player like this play at that level, especially for a defenseman. A lot of times, we say a defenseman takes a little more time to develop than, let’s say, a forward, as an example. So he’s been handling those situations really well.”

Giveaways and general defensive miscues have plagued Schaefer a bit this year. But he’s 18. That’s to be expected. What’s obvious, though, is that he has the offensive awareness to drive play and the natural speed to control the pace. Every play, every decision – they’re on his own terms. Schaefer is already one of the NHL’s top defenders, and he’s not old enough to drink on Long Island yet.

Playing in Cale Makar’s era means winning Norris Trophies will be difficult. But don’t you dare bet against Schaefer.

With files from Scott Maxwell

Recent Articles by Steven Ellis

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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