Matthew Schaefer's historic rookie season and future role

Schaefer is having an elite rookie season, with comparisons to Barzal and speculation he could break Orr's 139-point record (realistic 70-90). A specific 72-point projection from NHL.com has been added. He is being considered for a move to the right side to ease the defensive logjam and is a candidate for future captaincy. The prospect pool is ranked #9, with Schaefer as the centerpiece. A new article explicitly explores the position switch as a solution to the defensive logjam. Today, Horvat publicly expressed confidence that Schaefer will eventually be captain, adding significant weight to the leadership narrative. A summer roundup also mentions Schaefer, reinforcing his prominence. New: The Islanders are closely tracking Quinn Hughes' contract negotiations with the Wild to set the market for Schaefer's extension, adding a financial planning angle.