Copyright yardbarker
Between tournament action and the OHL regular season, Schaefer only played 30 games last year. Given how hard it is for someone his age to step into the NHL right away, the limited ice time last season should have made this one of the slowest transitions we’ve seen in quite a while. Instead? Complete opposite. Schaefer is playing some of the most impressive hockey from a rookie in decades. It’s a small sample size. We’ll see how he handles the grind of a full 82-game front. But there hasn’t been an obstacle too daunting for the former Erie Otters star. Most NHL scouts knew Schaefer would be a star. He has all the traits of a successful, modern-day defender. His hockey sense is off the charts, he’s as mobile as they come and he has the puck skills to decimate goaltenders. Schaefer shines when given more responsibilities, and it helps that he’s as calm as you’ll find. Nothing seems to faze him. It’s hard to be a rookie defenseman at his age. A young forward can lean on his other two linemates to help pick up the slack. As a defender, you’re typically more vulnerable. It’s why even some draft picks take time to develop. It’s not the 1980s anymore. Defenders can’t be successful by simply getting in the way. They need to contribute with and without the puck — something the likes of Makar, Hughes and Hutson do better than anyone. Schaefer is absolutely in that conversation now. He’s always scanning and looking to make the right play, and he can dominate offensively without sacrificing his defensive game.
