New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was honored as the NHL’s top rookie for October, announced on Saturday. Schaefer stood out among rookies, ranking third in points with three goals and five assists in 11 games.
In addition, Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights was recognized as the league’s first star, followed by Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets as the second star, and Jakub Dobes of the Montreal Canadiens as the third star for the opening month of the season.
Hailing from Hamilton, the 18-year-old Schaefer was the Islanders’ first overall pick in this year’s draft. He made an impressive start in the NHL, with only Phil Housley surpassing him as an 18-year-old defenseman with more points in his first 11 games, achieved back in 1982-83 with the Buffalo Sabres.
Schaefer clinched the top rookie spot for October, surpassing contenders like Dobes, Demidov, and Kapanen of the Canadiens, Finnie of the Red Wings, Buium of the Wild, and Snuggerud of the Blues. Setting a record, Schaefer became the youngest player to earn a point in his NHL debut at 18 years and 34 days, surpassing Scott Niedermayer’s previous record at 18 years and 46 days.
Furthermore, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman to score his first goal since Ross Johnstone over 80 years ago, achieving this milestone in his second game. He maintained a strong performance with a six-game point streak at the start of the season, culminating in a game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks on October 21.
Meanwhile, Eichel, fresh from signing an eight-year, US$108 million contract extension with Vegas, led the league with eight goals and 11 assists in 11 games, contributing to the Golden Knights’ 6-2-3 start. Scheifele also excelled, collecting points in 10 of his first 11 games and becoming Winnipeg’s all-time scoring leader with nine goals. Dobes shone with a 6-0-0 record in October, boasting a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage for the Canadiens, who held an 8-3-0 record. The 24-year-old Czech goalie showcased his talent by making at least 30 saves in three starts and allowing two or fewer goals in four games.