Pete DeBoer makes Matthew Schaefer-Olympics admission after 4 games as Islanders coach

Pete DeBoer faced the impossible task of turning around the New York Islanders in four games after the team let Patrick Roy go. New York would’ve needed to win all four remaining games and still get some help from the teams they were chasing to have a chance to make the playoffs. In the end, it didn’t happen, but four games were more than enough time for DeBoer to figure out how special Matthew Schaefer is and that he should’ve been coaching him on Team Canada at the Olympics, according to 100% Hockey via X, formerly Twitter.

“I would say hindsight that’s easy. I was in all those rooms, and it’s really hard to put an 18-year-old on an Olympic team,” DeBoer stated. “But having stood behind that bench with him for four games… I’ll put it this way, he’ll be on every Olympic team for the next 15 years.”

100% Hockey

Islanders’ Pete DeBoer on his teenage Phenom.

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— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) April 27, 2026

DeBoer held his cards close to his vest during the podcast, careful not to disrespect the defensemen who were on the team, but also saying some good things about the superstar he hopes to coach for a good portion of his career. While the new head coach didn’t say the quiet part out loud, it’s clear that Canada could’ve used him.

Schaefer will likely be the Calder Trophy winner for Rookie of the Year this season and also get votes for the Norris Trophy. If the Islanders had made the playoffs, he might’ve also gotten MVP votes. Not bad for an 18-year-old who wasn’t ready for the Olympics.

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