New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer sparks Connor McDavid comparisons after record breaking NHL debut season

The New York Islanders might have found one of the most promising young talents in the league. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has soon become an issue on the radar throughout the NHL courtesy of a cracking start to his first season of play, not only in being exceptionally fast on his skates, but in being an incredibly offensive threat as well as being remarkably calm and composed for his age.

Schaefer is still only 18 years old, but his performances have already instigated a discussion that is difficult to hear with a defenseman so young at the very beginning of his career. His agile puck handling and capability to hurl himself into an offensive drive have even been likened to Connor McDavid, who is the superstar captain of the Edmonton Oilers and is arguably the fastest and most talented skater in the modern history of the NHL.

New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer compared with Connor McDavid's skating style

A recent analytics breakdown pointed to the fact that Matthew Schaefer is a reflection of a number of the skating traits popularized by Connor McDavid. The first similarity that stands out prominently is between the two players having speed that is created by constant crossovers and not by straight long strides.

This is a skating move that enables one to gain speed within a short period of time and still make the puck unpredictable. To Schaefer, blue-line crossovers allow him to maneuver his way through traffic, enter the offensive zones without any huddles in ease, and provide scoring chances to the New York Islanders.

These figures of the rookie season of Schaefer contribute even more to the buzz around his progress. The young defenseman made 20 goals and 44 points in 61 games, which is an NHL record among the most 18-year-old defensemen in terms of goals.

Tracking data has also demonstrated that Schaefer is one of the fastest defensemen in the league, and he very often attains speeds in excess of 22 miles per hour. More to the point, he carries the puck with him as he skates at such velocities, which has traditionally characterized the game of McDavid with the Edmonton Oilers.

Provided the development of his skating, vision, and offensive confidence, the NHL might soon see another player who will have the ability to redefine the contribution of defensemen to the contemporary game.



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