Hamilton's Matthew Schaefer named NHL rookie of the month after strong start with Islanders

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Nov 03, 2025 8:57 AM EST | Last Updated: November 3

New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer was named the NHL's rookie of the period for October connected Saturday.

Schaefer ranked 3rd among each rookies successful points with 3 goals and 5 assists successful 11 games.

Also, Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel was chosen the league's archetypal star, Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele 2nd prima and Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes 3rd prima for the archetypal period of the season.

The 18-year-old Schaefer from Hamilton was selected archetypal wide by the Islanders successful this year's draft.

Only 1 18-year-old defenceman earned much points successful his archetypal 11 games of his NHL career. Phil Housley had 11 successful 1982-83 with the Buffalo Sabres.

Schaefer was chosen apical rookie successful October up of Montreal Canadiens teammates Dobes, Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen; Detroit Red Wings centre Emmitt Finnie; Minnesota Wild defenceman Zeev Buium and St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud.

At 18 years, 34 days, Schaefer was the youngest subordinate to grounds a constituent successful his NHL debut Oct. 9 successful a 4-3 nonaccomplishment to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Scott Niedermayer antecedently held the grounds astatine 18 years, 46 days.

Schaefer was besides the youngest defenceman to registry his archetypal goal, which helium did successful his 2nd game, since Ross Johnstone did astatine 17 years much than 80 years ago.

Schaefer ran a season-opening constituent streak to six games with 2 goals and 5 assists successful that span. He recorded his archetypal game-winning extremity Oct. 21 against the San Jose Sharks.

Fresh disconnected signing an eight-year, US$108-million declaration hold with Vegas, the 29-year-old Eichel led the NHL with 8 goals and 11 assists successful 11 games to assistance the Golden Knights to a 6-2-3 start.

Scheifele collected points successful 10 of his archetypal 11 games of the play and scored 9 goals to go Winnipeg's all-time scoring leader. The 32-year-old compiled a six-game constituent streak to commencement the play with 7 goals and 3 assists for the Jets, who went 8-3-0.

Dobes went 6-0-0 successful October with a 1.97 goals-against mean and .930 prevention percent for the Canadiens (8-3-0). The 24-year-old Czech made astatine slightest 30 saves successful 3 of his six starts and gave up 2 oregon less goals 4 times.