"New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer's start is no longer just impressive - it is historically singular. With a point Saturday in Ottawa, the 18-year-old became the first defenseman in NHL history to record a point in each of his first five games at that age. He is also the first defenseman ever taken first overall to begin his career with points in five straight."
"Among players aged 18 or younger, only eight skaters in the expansion era have ever reached a five-game point streak to start a career - and every one of them, until Schaefer, was a forward. The longest such streak at that age is seven, set by Alexander Daigle; Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky each reached six, and Sean Monahan topped out at five. Schaefer is skating in that class as a defenseman."
"With an assist to Isles statistician Eric Hornick in inside Islanders history, Schaefer is already in rare company. Only one Islander has ever begun his career with a longer run: Bob Bourne opened with six straight games in 1974. Among Islanders defensemen, the rookie record is seven, held by Stefan Persson in 1978. Schaefer is now within two games of that mark."
Matthew Schaefer, an 18-year-old New York Islanders defenseman, recorded a point in each of his first five NHL games, the first defenseman at that age to do so. Schaefer is also the first defenseman taken first overall to begin his career with points in five straight games. The streak leaves him one game shy of Marek Zidlicky’s six-game season-opening rookie defenseman mark from 2003-04. Among players 18 or younger, only eight skaters have reached a five-game opening point streak and all were forwards until Schaefer. Schaefer sits near Islanders franchise marks held by Bob Bourne and Stefan Persson.
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