Scouting Report on Matthew Schaefer | 2025 NHL Draft
Throughout the 2024-2025 season, TSLH Prospects will be sharing scouting reports, rankings, and profiles of prospects eligible to the 2025 NHL Draft. Continuing our work of the past five years, our analysts will provide insights on numerous prospects to give you a comprehensive overview of the draft class and their progress. Today, the spotlight is on Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman playing in the OHL.
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2025 NHL Draft Scouting Report: Matthew Schaefer
Matthew Schaefer is undoubtedly a top candidate for the best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft. Observers had high praise for the left-handed defenseman since last season. Despite only recording 17 points in 56 games with the Erie Otters last year, few were concerned about his production due to his challenging workload.
His current performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Tournament only reinforces his status as the 6-foot-1, 174-pound defenseman posted 5 points in 3 games so far with Team Canada. He logs significant minutes on the top pair alongside Alex Huang and the coaches trust him in all situations (with good reason).
Matthew Schaefer is the Perfect Example of the Modern Defenseman
Versatile, this left-hander is effective at both ends of the ice, but especially in puck handling in rushes. This is greatly aided by his elite mobility, intelligence, and anticipation. Matthew Schaefer is an expert at moving the puck up ice and controlling the pace efficiently. He constantly uses his skating agility to evade pressure or outmaneuver opponents.
Even though he takes offensive risks with dekes or daring drives through traffic, everything seems calculated in advance to avoid dangers for his team. The defenseman is so fluid that a puck loss in the offensive zone will never prevent him from being the first back, even if he’s the farthest player from his own zone.
An Offensive Weapon
Offensively, Matthew Schaefer constantly keeps moving to keep the defensive body alert and potentially open lines to exploit. With talented teammates, it’s easy for him to manipulate the opponents to exploit openings and create scoring opportunities. In any case, if a teammate doesn’t see what he’s trying to create, Schaefer will quickly adjust.
He also frequently uses his shot, but not necessarily to beat goalies with a laser or a thunderous shot. It’s more about low drives to create rebounds or deflections. This makes him difficult to counter because he can beat you with a developed range of options that he selects based on what’s available.
Matthew Schaefer also adds a physical touch to his profile in one-on-one confrontations. However, this is not yet mastered. It’s more a product of his intensity towards the puck than innate toughness. I believe the young player prefers to recover pucks with his active stick and mobility rather than with his shoulders.
Ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft
With the Otters, the defenseman will need to continue his strong performance from the Hlinka-Gretzky and solidify his place on the top pair. This should be a formality for him, but you never know. His progress needs to continue as it did last year, where there were no real weaknesses in his game. He just needs to meet expectations.
In my view, there’s no doubt that Matthew Schaefer should be in the conversation for the top 5 in the 2025 NHL Draft. He should be the first defenseman selected unless Logan Hensler exceed expectations during the season with Wisconsin in the NCAA. The race between the two should be really interesting to follow.
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