Why -- Historically And Skillfully -- Matthew Schaefer Is Right For The Olympics

The Maven, Stan Fischler, shares his thoughts on why the New York Islanders' 18-year-old defenseman deserves to be on Team Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

By Stan Fischler:

The story of Matthew Schaefer’s life, so far, can simply be put in a simple question-and-answer form:

Can he do it? YES! Over and over and over again, despite the obstacles and despite his age.

The Islanders' 18-year-old phenom defenseman from Hamilton, Ontario, has been ahead of the curve every single step of his hockey life, from double-runners to double-goals as a big-leaguer.

Yet the queries flow as often as Schaefer’s point total climbs from week to week. Meanwhile, the question of the moment is whether Schaefer is ready, willing, and able to play for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics.