Islanders Captain Vacancy: Why Schaefer Is Waiting
Key Takeaways
- Anders Lee's exit leaves the Islanders without a captain. - Matthew Schaefer, a highly regarded rookie, says he wants to learn from veterans before taking the "C." - Peter DeBoer may open the season without a captain, evaluating the room during camp. - The Islanders have missed the playoffs two straight years - getting this right matters.
The Islanders captain vacancy is the quietest story of the summer that could decide the season.
Anders Lee is gone. Eight years wearing the "C," he signed a significant deal with a new team in free agency.
For the first time since 2018, when John Tavares walked and the organization rushed to put the letter on Lee, nobody on Long Island has the "C" stitched to their jersey.
And the most obvious candidate is an 18-year-old who says he's not ready.
Who will be the next Islanders captain?
Matthew Schaefer is already the face of the franchise.
He had a standout rookie season and made a significant impact on the ice.
But Schaefer isn't lobbying for the letter. He told NHL.com, "I want to learn from those guys and become the best version of myself I can be."
Those "guys" are Bo Horvat, who was in his fourth season as Vancouver's captain when the Islanders acquired him, and another former captain who joined the team recently. Two experienced leaders are already in the room, already doing the work.
That's not a leadership vacuum. That's a talented kid who gets the difference between being the best player and being the right captain on day one.
Why Peter DeBoer won't rush the call
New head coach Peter DeBoer has options. He told The Athletic he wants to evaluate the room during training camp before deciding. And the Islanders may open the season without a captain.
That's not indecision. That's a coach who understands what's at stake.
The Islanders have missed the playoffs two straight seasons.
The last captain transition, Tavares to Lee, was handled fast and worked for eight years. But DeBoer is new. The room has turned over. Lee's exit after wearing the "C" for several seasons leaves a gap that goes beyond a letter on a jersey.
Run alternates to start. Let Horvat and the other leader anchor the group. Let Schaefer develop without the daily media grind that comes with the captaincy.
If he earns it by December, name him then.
Could Schaefer be youngest captain in NHL history?
If DeBoer gave him the "C" on opening night, he would be one of the youngest captains the league has ever seen.
The better template is a recent Calder winner who became a key player for his team. He wore an "A" before eventually raising a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe. The organization let the room come to him rather than forcing the timeline.
The Islanders can copy that blueprint.
What to watch at Islanders camp
DeBoer's first camp tells you everything.
Who talks when practice gets sloppy. Who pulls a teammate aside after a bad drill. Whether Horvat or the other leader naturally takes command of the room.
Becoming their captain may be next, especially with former captain Anders Lee leaving in free agency this offseason. The key word is "next." Not now.
Two years out of the playoffs. A new bench boss. A franchise icon gone. The "C" sits empty, and the kid who could wear it someday is content to wait. That patience might be the best sign Islanders fans have seen all summer. The real question: does DeBoer see what Schaefer sees?