New York Islanders Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer is one of the best young stars the game has to offer.
What he accomplished during his rookie season, as an 18-year-old, was unprecedented: scoring 23 goals with 36 assists for 59 points in 82 games, averaging 24:41 minutes per night while playing on the top defense pairing and the top power-play unit, and filling in on the penalty kill when needed.
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There’s no question that Schaefer is already a top-10 defenseman in this league but just how high on that list should he be?
NHL Network has been doing its Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list, with Schaefer coming in at No. 7.
Here are the names behind Schaefer: Jake Sanderson (8), Moritz Seider (9), Evan Bouchard (10), Charlie McAvoy (11), Jaccob Slavin (12), Adam Fox (13), Brock Faber (14), Roman Josi (15), Josh Morrissey (16), Jackson LaCombe (17), Victor Hedman (18), Shea Theodore (19), and Devon Toews (20).
Here are the names in front of Schaefer: Cale Makar (1), Quinn Hughes (2), Zach Werenski (3), Rasmus Dahlin (4), Miro Heiskanen (5), and Lane Hutson (6).
Come this time next season, will Schaefer be in the top five?
