Overview
- General manager Mathieu Darche confirmed Wednesday that Schaefer will not be released to Canada’s World Junior Championship team.
- Schaefer has been enrolled in Hockey Canada’s Olympic drug-testing protocol, a formal step that keeps him eligible for potential selection to Milan 2026.
- The rookie defenseman is averaging about 23:06 of ice time per game with top-pairing, all-situations usage for New York.
- Through 23 games he has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, tied for third-most on the Islanders.
- He is the early Calder Trophy favorite per a unanimous NHL.com writers poll, with Darche praising that he has “changed our team.”