Schaefer Grateful for Islanders Shot

William Schaefer finally gets his feet wet with the Islanders, and the kid's beaming like he just won the lottery after years grinding in the minors. You know the drill - call-ups like this don't always pan out, but Schaefer's whispering to anyone who'll listen that this chance means everything after dodging waivers and AHL bus rides. The Isles' depth chart's a meat grinder this time of year, and his joy underscores how rare these breakthroughs really are for bubble guys chasing that NHL dream.