Islanders' Matthew Schaefer won't admit to any rookie nerves before NHL debut
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders skates during warmups before making his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 9, 2025. Credit: Getty Images
PITTSBURGH — Matthew Schaefer stepped onto the PPG Paints Arena ice at 10:52 a.m. for the morning skate before his NHL debut, then ended the pregame practice by having the honor of leading the Islanders in stretching along with fellow rookie Max Shabanov, a role usually reserved for the captain.
The No. 1 overall pick also took a rookie lap with Shabanov, six years older and already with three years experience in the KHL, just before puck drop on Thursday night against the Penguins.
In many ways, the Islanders’ season opener was what the defenseman has been preparing for ever since he first put on skates. Yet the 18-year-old with well-beyond-his-age maturity knows it’s just Game No. 1.
“Super-exciting,” Schaefer said, facing an abnormally large media scrum in front of his dressing room stall that included several reporters from Erie, Pennsylvania, where he played junior hockey. “You’ve dreamed of playing in the NHL one day. The work doesn’t stop here, it’s just getting started. Honestly, it’s just like every other game. You want to get the season going.”
If there were any rookie nerves, especially facing a team with future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, Schaefer never showed them. He said he slept fine.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said of facing players of that ilk. “But everyone’s playing the game of hockey. You’re not really looking in awe. You want to beat them.”
Schaefer’s calm was not the rookie norm.
Emil Heineman, 23, who made his NHL debut on Dec. 21, 2023, for the Canadiens in Minnesota, vividly remembers the nerves.
“I was really nervous,” said Heineman, acquired in the offseason as part of the deal for defenseman Noah Dobson after recording 10 goals and eight assists in 62 games as a Canadiens rookie. “I couldn’t take a nap during the day. It was a lot to take in. I talked to some guys after that first game. They told me congrats but, at the same time, they told me you start to feel it. It’s the same game. It’s still hockey.”
At 18 years, 34 days, Schaefer, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, became the youngest defenseman selected first overall in the NHL Draft to make his NHL debut. He also became the second-youngest Islander to make his debut. Nino Niederreiter was 18 years, 31 days when he played his first game in 2010.
Schaefer’s father, Todd, was one of about 30 friends and family, including some from Erie who traveled to Pittsburgh. Schaefer’s mother, Jennifer, passed away at age 56 in February 2024 after a two-year battle with breast cancer.
“My dad is super-excited,” Schaefer said. “He’s like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe you’re playing in the NHL.’ He’s like a kid in the candy store right now, just enjoying it. Through all the hard times where your parents are working and driving you to practice, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy’s first NHL start also came in Pittsburgh, albeit across the street at the now-demolished Igloo. He went on to a Hall of Fame career as a goalie that included two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens and then two more with the Avalanche.
But Roy’s experience on Oct. 10, 1985, went more like Heineman’s nervous debut, which made the coach appreciate Schaefer’s demeanor even more.
“I didn’t know how to get to the rink, so I was late,” Roy said. “I think the first two, three shots, I can’t remember how many they had, Mario Lemieux scored two goals. We were down 2-0 and then Larry Robinson came to me and he goes, ‘Kid, don’t worry. Just make the next save.’ And Larry went coast-to-coast and beat Gilles Meloche between the legs and we came back to win.
“Good memories. Feels like it was yesterday, actually.”
Most likely, Schaefer someday will look back at his NHL debut with similar fond memories. In the moment, it was just a hockey game.
Notes & quotes: Kelly Cheeseman has joined the Islanders as president of business operations/alternate governor after nearly 25 years with the Kings, including the last 13 as chief operating officer . . . Anders Lee became the longest-tenured captain in Islanders history as he started his eighth season wearing the “C,” breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Denis Potvin (1979-87) . . . Marc Gatcomb, Kyle MacLean and defenseman Adam Boqvist were the healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
