NASHVILLE, TN — New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has picked up right where he left off after his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, continuing to show why he’s one of the NHL’s most exciting young players.
In 11 games this season, he has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and has scored in back-to-back games, including Tuesday night’s game against the Nashville Predators.
While his offensive abilities often steal the headlines, his defensive awareness, positioning, and ability to recover have stood out to his captain, Bo Horvat.
I caught up with Horvat after Monday’s practice in Nashville to discuss where he’s seen Schaefer’s game improve, what makes the 19-year-old so difficult to play against, and how high his ceiling can be.
Horvat also shared his thoughts on Semyon Varlamov’s return to the crease and what the Islanders need to clean up following Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Plus, head coach Pete DeBoer weighed in on Schaefer’s development and why he believes the young defenseman still has another level to reach.
Here’s what they had to say: