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Matthew Schaefer Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #1

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Matthew Schaefer Scouting Report

Welcome to your 2025 NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Sports and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the big event. This year’s draft is set to take place on June 27th and 28th live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles California. Today we bring you our Matthew Schaefer Scouting Report. 

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Matthew Schaefer is everything you could ever want from a future top-pairing NHL defenceman. A 6’2, 175 lbs left-shot defenceman who has faced adversity, can put up points, is excellent defensively, has a winning pedigree, and is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class. Sounds like a recipe for success to me.

2025 NHL Draft #1: Matthew Schaefer Scouting Report

Left Shot/Defenceman

Born September 5th, 2007

Height 6’2, Weight 183lbs [188cm, 83kg]



Pedigree

Matthews Schaefer’s winning pedigree is off the charts. Over the past two and a half years, Schaefer has led Team Canada to gold in the Canada Winter Games, U17 World Hockey Challenge (Captain), U18 World Championships, and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Captain), all while being named to the OHL First All-Rookie team. NHL teams love a player who contributes in high-pressure games, and Schaefer has proven that tenfold.

It isn’t like Matthew was some third-pairing defenceman playing sheltered minutes during these tournaments. After strong showings in both the U17 World Hockey Challenge and the U18 World Championships, Schaefer led the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in scoring by a defender with six points in five games. Additionally, Matthew earned a spot on Team Canada for the U20 World Junior Championships. He would play big minutes and was their top defenceman before going down to injury in game two.

Defensive Game

Schaefer has the rare ability to take over a game offensively and shut down a game defensively. In the defensive zone, Matthew always knows where to be and is rarely caught out of place. His composure on the ice is world-class, enabling him to remain structurally sound until the last moment before pouncing on attacking players and seamlessly transitioning to offence. When defending the front of the net, his sizeable frame and shutdown mentality allow him to effectively box out opponents and keep the net-front clear.

Outside of the D-zone, Schaefer also excels. Few players manage to get past Schaefer off the rush, thanks to his exceptional stick awareness and gap control, allowing him to make timely poke checks or intercept passes. He is exceptional at knowing when to surf up on oncoming attackers and when to fall back.

Offensive Game

Akin to his defense, the root of Schaefer’s offence stems from his superb skating. Not only is it smooth but also explosively quick, allowing him to evade opponents effortlessly. His skating rivals that of a figure skater, seamlessly transitioning between movements.  This enables him to join the rush with ease and walk the line once the O-zone has been obtained. While walking the line, Schaefer never missed the opportunity to open up passing and shooting lanes. He knows how to get to open ice, as well as create it.

His numbers this season don’t jump off the page like a normal first overall projected player. A mononucleosis diagnosis in training camp and a broken collar bone suffered during the IIHF World Juniors Championship hindered his playing time significantly. In the 17 games he did see action for the Erie Otters, Schaefer scored seven goals and finished with 22 points. As I said, these numbers are good but not as good as you might expect. The offensive potential still shines through, however. It doesn’t take long while watching him to see how offensively dominant he can be. Scouts expect Matthew to have no issue translating his offensive skills to the next level.

 

Projection and Comparison

Before the start of the NHL season, most had Schaefer slated in as a top-5 lock. Fast forward seven months, and now it would be a shock to many if his name wasn’t called first in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. The fact that Schaefer has somehow managed to increase his draft stock, all while only playing 17 games in Erie and two with Team Canada, is truly remarkable. He would be the first defenceman drafted first overall since Owen Power in 2021 and only the fourth in the last 20 years.

What kind of player can we expect from Schaefer once he gets to the NHL level? Well, he projects as a top paring left shot defenceman. He is a two-way player who will be able to quarterback a powerplay and log heavy minutes on the penalty kill. Schaefer has the capacity to shrink the ice, much like Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes, while also delivering breathtaking offensive maneuvers similar to the way Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres can.

Overall, Matthew Schaefer will stand out for any NHL team seeking a future top-pairing defenseman. His combination of skill, size, and resilience, coupled with an impressive record of success on the international stage, speaks volumes about his potential. Despite facing significant personal challenges, Schaefer has maintained a remarkable level of performance and commitment, showcasing his strength of character both on and off the ice. Look for his name to be called early in the NHL 2025 Entry Draft.

 

 

Main Photo: Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, left, controls the puck near Kitchener Rangers forward Adrian Misaljevic at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie on Nov. 23, 2024. Syndication: GoErie.com

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