Matthew Schaefer made his much-anticipated NHL debut on Thursday night when the New York Islanders took on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft found a way to make some history in the process.
Schaefer became the fifth-youngest player to ever record a point in his NHL debut, according to Sportsnet.
He got the primary assist on Jonathan Drouin's goal, the Islanders' first of the season. Schaefer skated up the left side and slid a pass to Drouin cutting down the middle of the ice to finish.
Schaefer played Thursday night's game at 18 years and 34 days old. He was the second-youngest No. 1 overall pick at the time of his debut, behind just Nathan MacKinnon.
MacKinnon had gotten a point on his debut, too.
The three players younger than both MacKinnon and Schaefer to notch a point in their first game?
Aleksander Barkov (18y, 31d), Jack Hamilton (17y, 256d) and Ted Kennedy (17y, 85d).
Youngest players in history with a point in NHL debut:
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 9, 2025
Ted Kennedy (17 yrs, 85 d)
Jack Hamilton (17 yrs, 256 d)
Aleksander Barkov (18 yrs, 31 d)
Nathan MacKinnon (18 yrs, 31 d)#Isles Matthew Schaefer (18 yrs, 34 d) pic.twitter.com/WhgE0ArIGa
There will be much more to come for Schaefer. He certainly wouldn't have been overjoyed after Thursday night, because the Penguins eventually beat the Islanders, 4-3.
But it's a start of what the Isles and Schaefer hope is a fantastic career. And it's much better to get on the board right away.
MORE: The Golden Knights' ending vs. the Sharks was absolutely bonkers