Matthew Schaeffer turned 18 last month. The Islanders rookie barely looked his age in his NHL debut
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matthew Schaefer jumped onto the dark ice at PPG Paints Arena and, along with New York Islanders teammate Max Shabanov, did the traditional solo lap that every player does before making his NHL debut.
It was the only time the 18-year-old Schafer looked like a rookie all night New York lost 4-3 To Pittsburgh.
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Confident and ready for the opening confrontation, Top overall choice In June’s draft, he wasted little time showcasing why the Islanders would want to take him after balls It bounced their way During the draft lottery.
Scheffer needed all of 12 minutes to collect the first point of his career, making a deft pass from the half-wall to Jonathan Drouin in the slot. Drouin’s knuckle was lofted by Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry to tie the game for New York.
“Our team is very easy to play with, and everyone is in the right place,” Schaefer said with a shrug. “I found (Drouin) there, it was an easy pass to him and of course he put it into the back of the net.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy wasted no time going to Scheffer, who played more than seven minutes in the opening period alone. Schafer finished with an ice time of 17:15, including some when New York’s net was empty late as the Islanders tried to tie it up.
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“I thought he was really good,” Roy said of Schaefer. “He was good at the end. Throwing pucks in. I thought he looked very comfortable and very confident out there. So I’m very happy with him.”
Schaefer, who was attended by about 30 friends and family, admitted there was some nervousness during his first two shifts, but he didn’t completely cave in to the direction of Penguins icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The big three at the club They are entering their twentieth season They play side by side, a tour that began before Schaeffer was born.
While Schaefer does not enter the league with the same outside expectations that followed Crosby to the NHL two decades ago — when Crosby himself arrived in the league at age 18 as the top pick in the draft — Schaefer recognizes how important his arrival and development are to a team that has not won a Stanley Cup in more than 40 years.
Yes, it’s remarkable that he made the club out of training camp barely a month after turning 18. He’s not here to sell tickets and generate interest, but to help the Islanders take a step forward in the competitive Capital Division sooner rather than later.
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Almost breathless as he spoke after becoming the second-youngest NHL defenseman to make his debut in 70 years, Schaefer wasn’t particularly interested in trying to put the moment into perspective because he regretted the outcome.
The Islanders controlled the game for long periods and threw 38 shots at Jarry. Barring a few costly collapses in front of their own net — which allowed Malkin and Crosby to work their magic — New York played with speed and purpose, which the Islanders hope provides a blueprint for what is to come, including the new kid.
“I thought we brought it tonight,” Schaefer said. “I hope we get the win. I hate losing. Now we know and we’ll learn from it and focus on our next game. But I think it was a great first game for us. I just hope we get the win.”
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