Islanders' Matthew Schaefer Ties Single-Season Rookie Defenseman Goals Record

Schaefer's historic rookie season continues as he matches Brian Leetch's 23-goal mark.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:19am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey player scoring a goal, with the player's form fractured and deconstructed into overlapping planes of color and shape.Schaefer's record-tying goal showcases the young defenseman's offensive flair and the Islanders' dynamic attack.NYC Today

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has tied the single-season record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, matching the 23 goals scored by Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers in the 1988-89 season. Schaefer's milestone came midway through Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he took advantage of open space to fire a shot past the goaltender and give the Islanders a 3-2 lead.

Why it matters

Schaefer's historic achievement is a testament to his incredible offensive talent and the impact he has made in his rookie season with the Islanders. The record he has tied is a significant one, held by a Hall of Fame defenseman in Leetch, and Schaefer's pursuit of the overall rookie defenseman goals record held by Leetch adds even more drama to the remainder of the season.

The details

Schaefer scored his 23rd goal of the season after a pass from teammate Tony DeAngelo, who set him up for the shot that beat Maple Leafs goaltender Artur Akhtyamov. The goal gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead in the game. While Schaefer has now tied Leetch's single-season rookie defenseman goals record, he still trails Leetch's overall rookie goals mark of 25, which includes two goals Leetch scored in 17 games the season prior to his recognized rookie campaign.

  • Schaefer scored the record-tying goal midway through Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The players

Matthew Schaefer

A rookie defenseman for the New York Islanders who has tied the single-season record for most goals by a rookie defenseman with 23, matching the mark set by Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers in 1988-89.

Brian Leetch

A Hall of Fame defenseman who holds the overall rookie defenseman goals record with 25, including 23 in his recognized rookie season with the New York Rangers in 1988-89 and two additional goals the prior season.

Ondrej Palat

An Islanders forward who passed the puck to Tony DeAngelo, leading to Schaefer's record-tying goal.

Tony DeAngelo

An Islanders defenseman who received the pass from Palat and then set up Schaefer for the record-tying goal.

Artur Akhtyamov

The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender who was beaten by Schaefer's record-tying goal.

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What’s next

Schaefer will have the opportunity to break Leetch's overall rookie defenseman goals record of 25 in the Islanders' remaining games this season.

The takeaway

Matthew Schaefer's historic rookie season with the New York Islanders continues to reach new heights, as he has now tied the single-season record for most goals by a rookie defenseman. Schaefer's pursuit of the overall rookie defenseman goals record held by Brian Leetch adds even more excitement to the remainder of the Islanders' season.