Matthew Schaefer represents a major wild card for the New York Islanders entering 2025-26. Fan and analyst opinions range from him returning to juniors to earning full-time NHL minutes. He should play only as long as he demonstrates he deserves the role, with a likely start on the middle pairing and gradual increase to top-pairing minutes if development warrants. Rapid development would bolster an otherwise capable Islanders roster. Slower progress would remove a two-way defensive option and could hinder the team. He should not face unnecessary pressure; additional ice time should be earned and awarded cautiously.
Matthew Schaefer may be the ultimate wild card for the New York Islanders heading into 2025-26. Ask anyone following the Isles, and you'll get a slew of different opinions on Schaefer, ranging from how there's a chance he could return to juniors to him seeing full-time minutes with ample ice time. For me, it's simple: I'd play Schaefer for as long as he's shown me that he deserves to play.
This means if I have my doubts about him, I'd send him back to Erie. Or, if I feel like he can handle middle pairing minutes, then that's where I'd put him. More likely than not, he's a middle-pairing player to kick things off, before gradually increasing his ice time to regular top-pairing minutes. That could happen as early as this season, but it gives general manager Mathieu Darche and Company something to think about.
Because if Schaefer develops faster than expected, it'll only help what's still a very capable Islanders team. If not, the Isles will have one less two-way weapon to work with as the season progresses, and that could hurt them all year long. This doesn't mean the New York Islanders need to put unnecessary pressure on Matthew Schaefer You don't need to spin my words around.
Collection
[
|
...
]