When hockey fans think of the most popular players in the NHL, they typically think of superstars such as Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin.

Other players that come to mind include Leon Draisatl, Nikita Kucherov, and Auston Matthews. 

When it comes to goalies, some of the most popular puckstoppers include Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jake Oettinger and Igor Shesterkin. 

While the aforementioned skaters and netminders are established NHLers with no shortage of fans, the NHL is currently reaping the rewards of an influx of phenomenal young talent. 

Not only is this injection of youth attracting viewership, the NHL also generates revenue courtesy of jersey sales, and ticket sales for fans who want to observe these young phenoms live in action. 

Some of the most notable young stars in the NHL include third-year centre Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, 19-year-old sophomore Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and 5-foot-8 inch defender Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens.

There is also 18-year-old rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders. 

Despite being limited to 73 OHL games over two seasons (2023-2025) due to injuries, the former Erie Otters defender was selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft by the Islanders. 

The smooth skating blueliner represented Canada at the World Juniors in 2025 in Ottawa, and was given strong consideration by GM Doug Armstrong for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. 

The Hamilton-born Schaefer has already earned superstar status on Long Island, and is considered the favourite to capture the Calder Trophy, as the league’s top rookie.

Schaefer registered 59 points in 82 games for the Islanders in his inaugural season. 

Another youngster vying for the Calder is former Oshawa General Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke notched 60 points in his rookie season with the Anaheim Ducks. 

Schaefer has faced adversity on the ice with injuries, and far greater off the ice with the tragic passing of his mother Jennifer in February of 2024, due to breast cancer. 

Despite his hardships, Schaefer appears mature beyond his years. He is currently an ambassador for cancer research through the NHLPA and NHL, and also dedicates his time towards youth hockey development. 

On March 19, Cal Perks of the U12 AAA Peterborough Petes met Schaefer while the Islanders were in Kanata to play the Ottawa Senators. Schaefer took a few minutes to chat with Perks, while signing his Hockey Fights Cancer hat, a hockey card and an Islanders jersey. 

Perks and Schaefer conversed about cancer and how it has affected both of their families. Perks lost his grandmother Joan to breast cancer in 2022. Both Schaefer and Perks acknowledged that they dedicate each of their respective hockey games to their lost loved ones. 

Credit to Schaefer for taking time to inspire a young fan who knows all too well how cancer tragically affects a family. 

Schaefer is a teenage superstar in the NHL. Fans should be ecstatic to watch him as a top blueliner in the NHL for the next two decades. The 2025 NHL draft Lottery gifted the Islanders a franchise defenceman. It won’t be long before Schaefer is handed the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman. 

We know one local child will be cheering Schaefer on for the duration of his NHL career.

© Peterborough Examiner