Expect Schaefer to hear his name called very early at the 2025 NHL Draft

Matthew Schaefer won’t have to wait very long to hear his name called at the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Erie Otters d-man will arguably be the top defenceman available to all 32 NHL clubs next June.

“I love this kid,” said Elite Prospect’s Cam Robinson. “He’s mobile, he’s confident, he’s poised, he’s got creativity. It’ll be really interesting to see if he can pop offensively this year.

“I think he can elevate himself into the conversation to be in that top-two, top-three range for this draft.”

Schaefer, the first overall pick in the 2023 OHL Draft, had three goals and 17 points in 54 games as a rookie a year ago. But internationally he’s created quite the resume with three gold medals to his name from the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge, 2024 U18 World Championships and 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. At the U17’s and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he captained Canada.

“He’s wise beyond his years,” said Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup head coach Kris Mallette. “He’s a player that exudes confidence. He’s a player that is extremely out-going and includes everybody. He’s just so comfortable to be around …[when] you compliment the leadership aspects, the character and accompany that with a really good hockey player it made it really easy to name him our captain.”