Matthew Schaefer and Macklin Celebrini, Digi Mart USA News (San Jose, California): Sometimes it is fine for fans to step back from the analysis and simply appreciate the skill and potential for future greatness. Monday night at SAP Center marked the third time two of the NHL’s brightest young stars, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, 19, and Sharks captain Macklin Celebrini, 20, have played against each other.
Islanders coach Pete DeBoer, in his 19th season as an NHL coach, said it is special to see two young, generational players face each other. “It doesn’t happen very often,” he said.
“We all talk about the next great player coming up, but these two guys really are in a category that I haven’t seen in my time in the league at the same time.”
DeBoer noted that Oilers star Connor McDavid was in a similar category, but said it was not a forward and a defenseman of basically the same age making such an early impact on their respective franchises.
Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau told Newsday that both players are extremely gifted, work hard every shift and do everything well. Schaefer is one of the Islanders’ alternate captains.
Entering Monday’s match, Schaefer had five goals and 11 assists in 16 games, while Celebrini had seven goals and 14 assists in 17 games.
Celebrini has already played for Team Canada at the Olympics this February in Italy, with DeBoer as one of the team’s assistants. Schaefer said it would be an honor to represent his country someday and that he is focused on improving his game.
Last season each player scored a goal in the Islanders’ 4-3 win over the Sharks at UBS Arena on Oct. 21, 2025, and Celebrini had a goal while Schaefer had an assist in the Islanders’ 2-1 overtime win in San Jose on March 7.
Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension on July 29 that kicks in after his entry-level deal expires following this season. The $18.8 million average annual value sets a salary-cap benchmark for Schaefer’s upcoming deal.
Schaefer, in the second season of his three-year entry-level contract, is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
Celebrini is from North Vancouver, British Columbia, and Schaefer is from Hamilton, Ontario, so they did not grow up playing much against each other. Schaefer said he first met Celebrini in Toronto during the 2025 draft year and that the two have since had fun together, including on promotional spots for Tim Hortons.
