Matthew Schaefer has had a seamless transition to the NHL

Matthew Schaefer’s transition into professional hockey has been as seamless as you could ask for.

On Tuesday, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and the New York Islanders faced the San Jose Sharks, with 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini on the other end of the rink. It was Schaefer and the Isles who had the last laugh, with the 18-year-old blueliner scoring a goal and an assist while finishing with 22:34 of ice time in a 4-3 win.

Now with two goals and five assists for seven points, Schaefer is just the second defender in NHL history with at least one point in each of his first six career games.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Irfaan Gaffar and former NHL defenseman Colby Cohen are your guest hosts, and they discuss Schaefer’s start and just how good a player he already is.

Irfaan Gaffar: Colby, it is insane for anyone to make it and play a game in the NHL, but for what Schaefer’s doing and how he’s reinvigorated these fans on Long Island, it can’t go unnoticed, can it?

Colby Cohen: No it can’t, and I think the most impressive part is that you have an 18-year-old defenseman, the hardest position to play, and he didn’t play a lot of hockey last year due to injuries. Obviously, he’s supremely talented. To go No. 1 overall, you have to have a certain level of talent that few will ever have or understand in the history of any sport.

But for him to come in, missing the time that he did last year, and to have the impact he’s having on this team, on this franchise, on this city right away … I talk about this on Morning Cuppa a little bit, and it reminds me of how good – and I know Drew Doughty didn’t put the offensive numbers up – but I was thinking, where’s another 18-year-old defenseman who came in and was this good in all three zones? Who had this much instinct?

That’s what I’m seeing how of him: this guy has come into pro hockey, in the best league of the world, and he’s not thinking about anything, he’s just letting his instincts take over.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…