Islanders' Matthew Schaefer meets Hall of Famer Phil Housley for first time

Schaefer trails only Housley in teenage defenseman goals.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 54m1 min read

Different eras, same game. Matthew Schaefer and Phil Housley met for the first time last night! https://t.co/eljedVY26q Via @NYIslanders on X

What happened: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who won the Calder Trophy after a record rookie season, met Hall of Fame blueliner Phil Housley for the first time Thursday night. Housley currently serves as an associate coach with the Los Angeles Kings.

Why it matters: Schaefer surpassed Housley's NHL records for an 18-year-old defenseman after entering the league. The meeting brings together the two defensemen who set the modern scoring standard for teenage blueliners.

By the numbers: Schaefer's 24 career goals tie Bobby Orr for the second-most by a teenage defenseman in NHL history, trailing only Housley's all-time mark of 46.

What to watch: Schaefer continues his pursuit of Housley's teenage goal record as the Islanders' 2026-27 regular season progresses.

Sources

@NYIslanders 2026-10-23T16:40:27.647358+00:00

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