![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Matthew-Schaeffer.jpg\")
Matthew Schaeffer skates up ice during the Islanders\u2019 2-1 home win over the Lightning on Dec. 2, 2025. Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\nMatthew Schaefer\u2019s chances of making Team Canada may come down to a simple matter of faith.<\/p>\n
Team Canada coach Jon Cooper, in town to coach the Lightning against the Islanders on Tuesday, said that as it relates to Canada\u2019s trio of young stars gunning to make the Olympic squad \u2014 Schaefer, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini \u2014 the biggest question is one they simply cannot answer: How they will handle the jump in speed and intensity that was on display at last year\u2019s 4 Nations Face-Off and will be in play at the Milan Games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so many things that go into it. You can use the 4 Nations as a gauge,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cWhat you do at the NHL level doesn\u2019t necessarily translate to what happens at that level. I never thought I\u2019d be watching hockey that happens faster than an NHL game. And that was exponentially faster. You gotta know, can players take that next step?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew Schaeffer skates up ice during the Islanders\u2019 2-1 home win over the Lightning on Dec. 2, 2025. Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Of course, there is no answer for that. Schaefer, Celebrini and Bedard have never played in the playoffs \u2014 no fault of their own \u2014 and that is the closest comparison to the level that will be on display in Milan.<\/p>\n
With eight defensemen likely to be named to the 26-man Olympic roster, Schaefer should have a reasonable shot at making it, but he needs to convince Team Canada\u2019s management group \u2014 which has frequently attended Islanders games, with both Bruins GM Don Sweeney and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois at UBS Tuesday \u2014 that he can handle that jump.<\/p>\n
Cooper is not evaluating for Team Canada during games he\u2019s actively coaching, but admitted that he would be paying a little extra attention to Schaefer, who he had not yet seen live at the NHL level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw Schaefer play in Edmonton at an under-17 deal when he was playing against his own age group. He was really, really good,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cNow you want to see how he\u2019s gonna play against men.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that the decision is not primarily Cooper\u2019s to make, but a group of managers that includes Doug Armstrong and Kyle Dubas in addition to BriseBois and Sweeney.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn the ice from Long Island\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty damn good tribute to them that in December we\u2019re talking about them. That\u2019s pretty impressive,\u201d said Cooper.<\/p>\n
Jean-Gabriel Pageau rejoined the Islanders for Tuesday morning\u2019s skate for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury 10 days ago, wearing an orange non-contact jersey.<\/p>\n