New York Islanders Ethan Sears Matthew Schaefer knows Islanders Year 2 isn’t going to get any easier By Ethan Sears Published Sep. 15, 2026, 7:44 p.m. ET Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Easton Cowan (53). Heather Khalifa for NY Post Matthew Schaefer was talking recently to his father, reminiscing about this time a year ago.
Schaefer was staying at a Long Island hotel, finishing up rookie camp. Even if everyone else knew it was unlikely he’d end up back in the Ontario League, he had to make the Islanders, had to prove he was worth keeping around past the nine-game limit when his contract year would kick in. He didn’t know where he’d live and no one knew, exactly, what he could do.
“How much stuff has changed in a year, it’s crazy,” Schaefer said. “I was in high school two years ago, you know what I mean?”
