- Matthew Schaefer will wear an “A” for the Islanders this season at 19 years old
- Brayden Schenn also joins the leadership group under captain Bo Horvat
- Read below for the franchise record and how the letters split home and road
Matthew Schaefer has a letter on his sweater before his 20th birthday.
The Islanders named the 19-year-old defenseman an alternate captain on Tuesday, along with Brayden Schenn. The pair join returning alternates Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock under captain Bo Horvat, rounding out New York’s leadership group for 2026-27.
Here’s the Islanders’ announcement:
Schaefer’s appointment comes with a franchise first. Russ Macias pointed out that no Islander has ever been named an official alternate captain at a younger age, and Stefen Rosner passed it along shortly after:
Home and road duties are split. Schaefer and Palmieri wear the “A” at home, while Schenn and Pulock take it on the road.
None of this comes out of nowhere. Pete DeBoer said last week that Schaefer is a future Islanders captain, and Horvat only got the “C” earlier this month after Anders Lee left for Utah in free agency.
Wearing a letter isn’t new for him. Schaefer was an alternate captain for the OHL’s Erie Otters as a 17-year-old in his second and final junior season.
His rookie year made this an easy call. The 2025 first overall pick put up 23 goals and 59 points in all 82 games, averaged 24:41 of ice time a night, and took home the Calder Trophy.
Schenn brings a different kind of experience. The 35-year-old captained the Blues from 2023 until New York acquired him ahead of the March trade deadline, and wore an “A” in St. Louis for three seasons before that.
Fans at UBS Arena get their first look at Schaefer with the “A” on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Islanders host the Devils in their home opener.
