Matthew Schaefer — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Matthew Schaefer is an NHL defenseman for the New York Islanders. In the 2025-26 season Matthew Schaefer has 23 goals, 36 assists and 59 points in 82 games, worth 11.9 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
The first overall pick in 2025, Matthew Schaefer made an immediate and significant impact as an offensive defenseman for the Islanders in his rookie season. At just 18 years old, he played a full 82-game schedule, registering an impressive 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points, contributing to a strong 10.2 GAR.
Schaefer's exceptional value is almost entirely rooted in his even-strength offense, which provided +10.1 GAR. This highlights his ability to consistently drive scoring and create opportunities from the blueline during 5-on-5 play, a rare level of production for a player in his debut year.
Player Profile
| Position | Defenseman |
|---|---|
| Team | New York Islanders |
| Shoots / Catches | L |
| Height | 6'2" |
| Weight | 186 lb |
| Draft | 2025 — Round 1, Pick 1 — NYI |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 23 | 36 | 59 | +13 | 38 | 222 | 10.4% | 24:41 | 53.4% | 15.3 | 0.6 | 11.9 | 2.13 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| +7.3 | -1.0 | +1.8 | -0.0 |
League percentile rank: points 88th, GAR 96th, WAR 96th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 82 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 11.9 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Matthew Schaefer has been worth 11.9 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 96th percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by even-strength offense (+7.3 GAR), while his even-strength defense grades below replacement (-1).
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matthew Schaefer's GAR this season?
Matthew Schaefer has been worth 11.9 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 96th percentile of NHL players.
What is Matthew Schaefer's WAR this season?
Matthew Schaefer has been worth about 2.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 96th percentile of NHL players. WAR converts GAR to wins at roughly 5.57 goals per win.
How many points does Matthew Schaefer have this season?
Matthew Schaefer has 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in 82 games this season.
Is Matthew Schaefer a good defenseman?
Matthew Schaefer ranks in the 96th percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (11.9) in the 2025-26 season.
When was Matthew Schaefer drafted?
Matthew Schaefer was drafted in 2025 — Round 1, Pick 1 — NYI.