The Schaefer Show
Stefen Rosner talks to New York Islanders' No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer about quarterbacking the power play.
Early in the season, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy knew, at some point, Matthew Schaefer would be quarterbacking his top power-play unit. But never did he think that the 18-year-old dynamo would produce this quickly, every game.
Last night, Schaefer extended his six-game scoring streak by notching a power-play assist and then the game-winning goal. That tally made him the youngest defenseman in NHL history to accomplish that feat.
The Islanders have scored five power-play goals this season. Schaefer has been on the ice for three of them, collecting points on all three, with a goal and two assists.
No. 48 has already proven to be a difference maker in a multitude of ways outside of his incredible command at the point on the power play: he makes neat outlet passes, he is one of, if not the best, skaters in the league, and he’s already trademarked his backchecking prowess.
The one thing the organization and fans justifiably are nervous about is Schaefer’s time on ice as the season wears on. 20-plus minutes has already become the norm for the first-year Islander.
Being that he is such a gamebreaker, playing Schaefer on the power play as much as possible is the most advantageous way to build his minutes. The reason is that one hardly gets hit when skating on the power play, so the rookie skates one to two minutes of physicality-free hockey.
More to the point, Schaefer has attracted more attention quarterbacking the power play from the opponents -- opening the inside of the ice, allowing Bo Horvat, amongst others, to score PPGs with that extra space.
Stefen Rosner discussed what Schaefer is thinking when quarterbacking the power play, making his elite shifty movements, and about how rough it might be for an 18-year-old to play on the NHL level.