Matthew Schaefer is on the ice for over 26 minutes a night for the New York Islanders, a full 90 seconds more than last season, and it’s got him sitting fourth in the entire league for ice time. That’s an eye-popping 26:13 per game for the 19-year-old defenseman, but here’s the kicker: neither Schaefer nor the Islanders are sweating it, even with coach Pete DeBoer’s stated desire to keep his workload in check.
The “Different Minutes” Strategy is Genius
DeBoer is pretty clear that not all minutes are created equal, and that’s the Islanders’ secret sauce for managing Schaefer. While the raw number is up, they’ve pulled him off the penalty kill this season. It’s a strategic shift that means Schaefer’s massive ice time is loaded with power play and offensive zone shifts rather than grinding, defensive battles. DeBoer put it simply after practice: “I think 26 minutes isn’t necessarily all the same type of minutes. If you’re defending all night, if you’re killing penalties, those are different minutes [than] power play and offensive situations, things like that.” It’s smart, right? Maximizing his impact where he shines without burning him out on the toughest shifts.
And Schaefer? He’s not asking for a break. The kid just loves to play, says his body feels great, and he’s not one to shy away from being on the ice. He’s still young, still burning energy out there, and he finds it fun. Through his whole NHL career so far, there’s been zero indication that the workload has messed with his game. He hasn’t hit an extended slump, and he doesn’t fade late in games even when the team leans on him hard. Coach DeBoer does check in, reminding him to rest, but he knows Schaefer thrives out there.
Capology and the Long Game: Why Every Minute Counts
The only real worry here isn’t about today, it’s about the “mileage” Schaefer accumulates in his teenage years impacting him down the road. But for now, the kid is a force. Meanwhile, the Islanders are playing some serious chess off-ice, too. They moved Matias Maccelli and Calum Ritchie, both with lower-body injuries, to injured reserve. This opened up two roster spots, which they used to call up Kashawn Aitcheson and Pierre Engvall.
Now, don’t expect to see Aitcheson or Engvall on the ice anytime soon, or even joining the team. These were “paper transactions” purely to get the Islanders closer to the salary cap ceiling. Why do that? It’s all about maximizing their long-term injury pool. If and when Alexander Romanov gets added to LTIR, these paper moves allow them to accrue more cap space. While the NHL has closed loopholes on sending players down on paper for cap accrual, doing it with a call-up is still fair game. It’s a wild world of numbers and strategy.
So yeah, Schaefer is logging huge minutes, and the Islanders are banking on his youthful resilience and smart management to keep him firing. That, along with their shrewd cap maneuvering, shows a team thinking about both the immediate games and the long-term future. Will this high-octane start translate all season? You gotta wonder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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