EXCLUSIVE: Scott Mayfield On Matthew Schaefer’s NHL Transition, Rookie Hype & Team Support
After making the New York Islanders roster, No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer faces his biggest challenge yet. Veteran defenseman shares how he’ll help guide the rookie through it all.
EAST MEADOW, NY — Matthew Schaefer has made the New York Islanders, with the No. 1 overall pick checking off another box.
Now, Schaefer faces his toughest task yet — a full NHL season.
Last year, Schaefer appeared in just 17 regular-season games for the OHL’s Erie Otters due to mono and a collarbone injury. Even if he had stayed healthy, an OHL season features only 68 games, with players competing two to three times per week, typically on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The NHL, however, is a different animal — an 82-game grind with games spread across the week, often three to four times every seven days.
The biggest difference might be the travel. In the OHL, teams travel by bus, with the longest trip around nine hours and most within a four-hour radius. In the NHL, you’re flying across the continent, where jet lag, sleep disruption, and fatigue become real factors that have to be managed.
And then there’s the game itself — faster, heavier, and more physical than anything Schaefer has experienced.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, everything that makes the NHL the best league in the world will be new to Schaefer. That’s why it was crucial for the Islanders to pair him with someone who can guide him both on and off the ice.
Enter Scott Mayfield, a 32-year-old NHL veteran who’s been tasked with mentoring Schaefer — a responsibility he’s taking seriously, and one he’ll continue to embrace for as long as needed.
I spoke with Mayfield about how he thinks Schaefer will handle the physicality of the NHL, how the hype surrounding the rookie affects the group, and the role the entire team will play in protecting him.