Travis Flynn

Makar, QHughes, Gostisbehere, and Heiskanen are the most notable defensemen for drawing penalties without taking many of their own, in recent seasons.

I don't think Schaefer keeps up pace for +49 this season, but +20 is possible.

Keep in mind Makar was 22 for his 1st big jump, #70-#85 games here.

I believe goals are 6-23 for NYR now, on MSG ice.

a hockey game between the islanders and the sharks ALT: a hockey game between the islanders and the sharks

i missed you 👑👑 #isles

His quick feet and great hands help a lot, not taking penalties, but also amazing he mostly knows what to do to be in good position in the defensive zone.

It's unreal.

Also, hardly anyone else on Isles attacks well enough to draw penalties, so close calls are going Schaefer's way this season, if opponent hasn't been "penalized enough."

That one was pretty clear, but some of the high sticks Schaefer has thrown his head back, perhaps a bit more than a natural reaction.

Schaefer is most of the way to drawing more penalties than Makar did any of his age 21, 22, and 23 seasons.

His differential is already better, at +9 (11 penalties drawn, 2 taken).

Schaefer is most of the way to drawing more penalties than Makar did any of his age 21, 22, and 23 seasons.

His differential is already better, at +9 (11 penalties drawn, 2 taken).

Makar has been the best NHL defenseman at drawing more penalties than he takes.

Penalties Drawn to Taken first three NHL seasons for Makar:

8 to 6 in 57 games (age 21)
13 to 6 in 44 games (age 22)
15 to 13 in 77 games (age 23)

Schaefer is 10 to 2 in 14 games (age 18)

via Natural Stat Trick

Here are penalties drawn among the top 15 point-scoring defensemen for this season and 2024-25.

Schaefer already has drawn more than 7 of the 15 did last season.

Only Makar has a season 25+ and 15+ differential since 2008. Schaefer is 10, 8 right now. (Took 2 penalties.)

Metro waffle chart update:

WSH slip, with only 3 pts in past 6 games. They have lost 4 in a row with Lindgren in goal, including SOL to BUF.

NJD and CAR not as dominant as first couple weeks.

NYR took 6 of 8 pts at CGY (L), VAN (W), EDM (OTW), SEA (OTW) before losing to CAR.

Isn't that a scene from Airplane, or Naked Gun—guy reading off symptoms while another is experiencing.

Here is Metro Division the last 10 games for goal differential, broken down by EV, PP, SH.

PIT, CAR, WSH, and NYI strong at EV, in terms of goals.

PIT and NJD strong special teams differential.

NYR struggling across the board.

Here is a spaghetti chart, to track 10-game rolling goal differential, as the season goes on, for Metro teams.

PIT + NJD are off to hot starts.

NYI and NYR each -4 after 10 games, but have swung in different directions since then, CBJ and PHI falling.

via Natural Stat Trick

Only seven NHL defensemen have finished a season with >20 penalties drawn and >10 differential since 2007-08.

Only one has >25, >15.

Schaefer is 9, 7 after 13 games as an 18-year-old rookie.

Data via Natural Stat Trick

There are 12 NHL defensemen above +2 for penalty differential (drawn minus taken):

+7 Schaefer
+6
+5
+4 Heiskanen, Hutson, AJohansson, Parekh
+3 Stastney, Moser, Pettersson, Forsling, Brodin, Mintyukov, QHughes

Makar, Hedman, Theodore, Sanderson among those at +2.

Isles picked up their first two divisional wins over the weekend.

NYI are the first Metro team to defeat one of the top two from last season, as they leaned on Sorokin in victory over the Capitals.

Hurricanes still undefeated vs Metro foes, with wins over Devils, Isles, and Flyers.

Revisiting this article of mine re: shots on goal/missed/blocked

Since the NHL reportedly moved to using chip tech for event recording (reportedly for 23-24), ~8% of shots that were previously recorded as on goal are now recorded as blocked or missed

prashanthiyer.substack.com/p/its-harder...

I forgot that Streit almost finished that season leading Isles in goals, ha!

If you invited five of your friends, at random, to a 2025 NHL draft lottery party, there was a better chance that 2+ of the six of you shared a birthday than of NYI winning the 1st overall pick.

Streit + Tavares combo was fun on the power play.

In the long term, hopefully Eiserman can be a big threat for Isles, but always uncertain how it translates to NHL until we see it.

FLA, PHI, and VGK have suited up a total of 23 defensemen this season.

The 23 have scored fewer combined goals than Matthew Schaefer.

It feels like a real man advantage when Schaefer is on the ice with a man advantage.

Isles haven't had this since Streit.

I don't want to relive that 😮‍💨

Arms in the air

Skate smoothly and carry a big stick, you will go far.

If today were a Faulkner novel

Like Lincoln is under fire every time someone takes a shot, according to Buccigross.

a man is standing in front of a building with a sign that says open mon - fri - sat sunday ALT: a man is standing in front of a building with a sign that says open mon - fri - sat sunday

Tired: Barzal too lazy to make bus on time.

Attired: Barzal too focused on threads, loses track of bus time.

Rewired: Barzal realizes missing bus means top center prospect called up, the sooner he rides shotgun on Horvat's wing.

Isles with another chance to pick up their first divisional win today, against Hurricanes.

Capitals and Hurricanes still undefeated against Metro foes.

All forms of wins/losses are simply win/loss for this chart. (OT, shootout)