Stefen Rosner just flagged that Matthew Schaefer tied Bobby Orr and Scott Stevens in the NHL record book.
The Islanders defenseman picked up a secondary assist on Victor Eklund's power-play goal in San Jose tonight. It was his 48th career assist, which ties Orr and Stevens for the seventh most by a teenage d-man in league history. The game is still in the third period as we write, so there is no final to report.
Rosner noted that the same assist gave Schaefer his 76th career point, tying Rick Hampton for the fourth most by a teenage defenseman in NHL history.
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For anyone catching up, Schaefer is 19, went first overall in the 2025 draft and has been the centerpiece of the Islanders' rebuild since he walked in. He sits at 98 career games, two shy of 100.
Andrew Gross of Newsday added a local angle: the point total is also the second most ever by an Islanders teenager.
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Eklund, 20, was the 16th pick in 2025. He is the other young Islander in this story, and his power-play goal is what put Schaefer in the books.
## How rare is Schaefer's start for a teenage defenseman?
Orr and Stevens are two names that need no introduction. Orr finished with 915 points in 657 games. Stevens played 1,635 games over 22 seasons with New Jersey, St. Louis and Washington.
Schaefer is level with both of them in assists at an age when most defensemen are still fighting for a regular shift. Hampton, who spent his six seasons with Los Angeles, finished with 172 points in 337 games. Schaefer is already tied with him at the 76-point mark, and he is not done.
Rosner also pointed out that Schaefer now has 17 points this season, joining Bo Horvat at the top of the Islanders' scoring list.
The Islanders need the good news. They came into the night on a three-game losing streak, the latest a 5-4 overtime loss to New Jersey on Saturday. That was the night Schaefer and Luke Hughes dropped the gloves on Long Island, a first-overall-pick fight nobody saw coming.
San Jose is in worse shape, having lost five straight, with a goal differential of -22.
Schaefer drew 17:46 of ice time in this one, and that matters in the debate over who the best young defenseman in the league is. Nobody his age has had his numbers, and the history books now say so.
Next up for the Islanders is a trip to Los Angeles on Thursday, where Schaefer could reach 100 career games.
Quick hits
STREAK WATCH: Connor McDavid's 18-game assist streak is in doubt after the Oilers' 3-1 win over the Rangers. BR_OpenIce says the NHL website is not crediting him with an assist tonight. The official scoring may still change.
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SAN JOSE SHARKS: Two fights broke out at once off a faceoff with 11.5 seconds left in the second period of Sharks-Islanders. After Saturday's Schaefer-Hughes fight, this rivalry is heating up in a hurry.
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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Jordan Hall reported a heated moment on the Flyers bench involving Matvei Michkov during the third period in Vancouver. Details are thin for now, but it is a story to track.
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Also read on Markerzone.com:
Luke Hughes and Matthew Schaefer exchange blows in what could be the first overall picks first fight
