New York Islanders’ rookie defenseman, Matthew Schaefer, was honored as the NHL’s top rookie for the month of October. Schaefer stood out among rookies, securing the third spot in points with three goals and five assists in 11 games.
In addition, Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights was recognized as the league’s first star, with Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets as the second star, and Jakub Dobes of the Montreal Canadiens as the third star for the initial month of the season.
Hailing from Hamilton, the 18-year-old Schaefer was the Islanders’ first overall pick in this year’s draft. He achieved a notable milestone by becoming the only 18-year-old defenseman to garner more points in his first 11 NHL games since Phil Housley in 1982-83 with the Buffalo Sabres.
Schaefer outshined other rookies in October, surpassing Montreal Canadiens’ Dobes, Ivan Demidov, and Oliver Kapanen, along with players from other teams. Notably, Schaefer set a record as the youngest player to record a point in his NHL debut at 18 years, 34 days, surpassing Scott Niedermayer’s previous record at 18 years, 46 days.
Moreover, Schaefer made history as the youngest defenseman to score his first goal since Ross Johnstone over 80 years ago, achieving this feat in only his second game. His impressive performance included a six-game point streak at the start of the season, culminating in his first game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks on October 21.
Meanwhile, following his lucrative contract extension with Vegas, 29-year-old Eichel led the NHL in goals and assists, propelling the Golden Knights to a strong 6-2-3 start. Scheifele, aged 32, also excelled by becoming Winnipeg’s all-time scoring leader with a remarkable performance of nine goals in his first 11 games, contributing to the team’s 8-3-0 start.
Finally, Dobes of the Montreal Canadiens maintained a perfect 6-0-0 record in October, showcasing a stellar 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. The 24-year-old Czech goaltender showcased exceptional skills by making crucial saves in multiple games and consistently keeping the opposition to two or fewer goals.
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