Matthew Schaefer Sets High Team Expectations in Year 2 With Islanders

Matthew Schaefer is expecting the New York Islanders to take another step in his second year with the team.

Apr 9, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) reacts after scoring a goal in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The New York Islanders hit a grand slam when they selected Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Expectations are always high for a player selected No. 1, but the youngster was not fazed by any of it. He earned his spot on the team and then quickly established himself as one of the best players in the NHL, regardless of age.

He was a unanimous selection for the Calder Trophy, given to the best rookie in the league. It was the first time that had happened since the 1992-93 season when Teemu Selanne did it with the Winnipeg Jets.

Schaefer ran away with the award after putting together one of the most productive rookie seasons the NHL has ever seen. He racked up the personal accolades, but there was one thing missing: a playoff appearance.

Matthew Schaefer wants to make playoffs in Year 2 with Islanders

Apr 9, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) plays the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Islanders exceeded expectations during the 2025-26 campaign with 91 points, but fell short of the postseason, with some needs to address. That is something Schaefer is hoping changes in Year 2, as making the playoffs is the expectation he is setting for the club.

“One hundred percent, you don’t just want to play in the season and end early,” Schaefer said, via Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. “You want to win the Stanley Cup, that’s the biggest thing. Making playoffs is a good start, but we just have to think about the start of the season and have a great start so you can keep it going so that by the end of the season, we’re in the playoffs and then we can focus on that.”

Despite not many people believing they would be in the mix coming into the season, missing the playoffs as a rookie is something that has bothered Schaefer. New York held a playoff spot as late as April 4, but faded down the stretch.

2025 first overall pick and Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer announced the first pick in the 2026 #NHLDraft for the @NYIslanders! pic.twitter.com/r7VwuZdmxr

— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2026

Faltering late in the season was a big reason why Patrick Roy was relieved of his duties as head coach and replaced by Pete DeBoer, who has made the Stanley Cup Finals twice as a coach, first with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and with the San Jose Sharks in 2017.

DeBoer has a 97-82 postseason record in his career. Schaefer would love to add a few more wins to that total next spring, with leading the Islander to a postseason appearance being at the top of his to-do list.

It would be quite an encore after a rookie campaign in which he broke all kinds of franchise and NHL records. The personal achievements are great, but putting the team first despite all of his success is part of what makes the 18-year-old such a special player.