Patrick Roy praised the Isles’ Matthew Scheffer after his “confident” NHL debut
PITTSBURGH — Matthew Schaefer jumped onto the dark ice at PPG Paints Arena and, along with New York Islanders teammate Maxim Shabanov, did the traditional solo lap that every player does before his NHL debut.
That was the only time the 18-year-old Scheffer looked like a rookie all night during New York’s 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh.
As confident and poised as he was from the opening faceoff, the top pick in June’s draft wasted little time in showcasing why the Islanders wanted him after balls bounced his 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 it [Drouin] There, it was an easy pass for him and of course he put it into the net.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy did not hesitate to go to Schaefer, who played more than seven minutes in the first half 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.
“I thought he was really good,” Roy said of Schaefer. “He was good at the end. Throwing pucks in. I think 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 nerves during his first two shifts, but he didn’t completely bow down to Penguins icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The club’s big three enter their 20th season playing alongside each other, a streak that began before Scheffer was born.
Although Schaefer does not enter the league with the same outside expectations that followed Crosby two decades ago — when Crosby himself arrived in the league at age 18 as the top draft pick — 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.
Almost breathless as he spoke after becoming the second-youngest NHL defenseman to make his debut in 70 years, Scheffer was less concerned with trying to put the moment in perspective than regretting 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 — the Islanders played with speed and purpose, which they 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.”