Matthew Schaefer is speeding his way to the top of the list in 2025
For those who weren’t familiar with Matthew Schaefer before the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the young Hamilton, ON product is certainly on everyone’s radar now.
Schaefer, the top standout on a Team Canada squad that’ll feature several first round prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft, not only captained his country to a third straight gold medal at the tournament but also his own personal third straight international first-place finish. His Midas touch extends to gold at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last November being playing as an underager for Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship last May.
“Schaefer is consistently one of the smartest players on the ice,” Joseph Aleong, Ontario regional scout with FCHockey, said.
Big praise, but well-deserved, too.
The early accolades have earned Schaefer the recognition as the potential top defensemen in the 2025 draft class.
“His hockey sense is impeccable,” echoed Mike Kennedy, another Ontario-based scout for FCHockey. “He is definitely a player that makes everyone around him better.”
Schaefer, boasting such a high hockey IQ — a trait NHL teams significantly covet in young defefensemen — will definitely be at the top of many draft boards, especially when you combine the hockey sense with Schaefer’s elite skating ability. The combination makes the 6-foot-1 rearguard a rare threat, as not many players are able to think and play the game at the speed he does.
That IQ and skating are Schaefer’s calling cards going into his draft year, and has him slotted ahead of fellow blueliners Logan Hensler, Charlie Trethewey, Luca Radivojevic, and Sascha Boumedienne.
But what more does the youngster from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League bring that puts him a step above?
“He’s just an unselfish player,” Otters assistant coach Ken Peroff told FCHockey. “He’s a player that takes pride in learning all the small aspects of the game. That combine with his high motor and just overall passion for the game make him an unbelievable talent.”
Honing the small skills is something not many young players consider at just 16 years old, and is the reason that the former Halton Hurricane has accumulated the early success and stands atop the defensemen rankings for 2025.
“His transition defense, ability to force turnovers, and frequency with which he leads the way with zone entries and exits are all tools that grade out highly and will be areas he’s relied on highly at the NHL level,” said FCHockey scout Donesh Mazloum, who saw first-hand Schaefer’s exploits at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Right away, Schaefer ticks a lot of the intangible boxes that NHL front offices tend to value in young players.
This bodes well for the left-handed defender, but a significant jump in offensive production from his 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 56 games as a rookie in Erie will only help solidify his place at the top of the draft board.
“His confidence is growing and he is very likely to see a significant increase in ice time and situational play,” Kennedy added.
It’s easy to look at an average point total during his rookie season and wonder if Schaefer truly does have that next level of offense to his game.
But Peroff doesn’t see an issue with the overall production from Schaefer’s freshman offering.
“The box scores weren’t always there,” Peroff said. “If you watched the game, you’d notice that Schaefer had an impact on the game every time he touched the ice.”
There’s always some growing pains for players when they enter into a new league, playing against older players.
So breaking down Schaefer’s season — which also included an OHL First All-Rookie Team nod — the slow start to his year can be offset with the fact he registered 15 of his 17 points in the final 36 regular-season games. A 16-year-old blueliner clicking at almost a half point per game is something special.
Combine with the fact that he comes into this season with a greater understanding of the league, a spike in the offense shouldn’t be too out of the question.
And it’ll only raise expectations that project a potential top-5 pick in 2025.
“As one of the youngest players in the draft class, he has a long runway and a high ceiling,” Mazloum said.
There’s no question that Schaefer is one of the top names heading into the 2025 draft, though how early his name gets called is yet to be determined. He has the skillset and the mindset to be an impact player at the NHL level and will definitely be a coveted prospect.
“He’s a special player,” Kennedy said.