Overview
- With points in each of his first five NHL games, Schaefer is the first 18-year-old defenseman to start a career with such a streak and can tie Marek Zidlicky’s six-game mark on Tuesday against San Jose.
- Through five games he has 1 goal and 4 assists and leads Islanders defensemen in early points-per-60 and power-play points-per-60 metrics, according to The Hockey Writers.
- The Islanders elevated him to the top power-play unit on Saturday, and his first NHL goal came on the man advantage.
- ESPN notes he is the youngest defenseman to record a point in his NHL debut, the youngest NHL player on record to score his first goal on the power play, and the youngest to log 25-plus minutes in a game.
- Coaches initially rode him for 26-plus minutes before scaling back under 23, and his skating has drawn high-profile praise, including an ESPN on-air comparison to Chris Pronger, with the usual small-sample caution.