Matthew Schaefer – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Schaefer returned to play just three games in Erie, where he scored four points, before heading off to the World Juniors in Ottawa. Although he was a surprising inclusion to Team Canada, he once again looked like the best defenceman on the team despite being the second-youngest player on the roster. This time, he showed off his incredible defensive game. He was all over the ice, playing a solid defensive game, blocking shots and throwing big hits while showing off a high-end awareness of breaking up opponent’s plays and keeping possession.

However, Schaefer still found time to flex his offensive game. In the opening matchup against Finland, he caught the puck high in the offensive zone, but instead of trying to cycle it, he wired it to Gavin McKenna right in front of the net. McKenna’s highlight-reel goal overshadowed Schaefer’s incredible vision to find a wide-open lane through the middle of the ice and put the puck right on his teammate’s stick. Unfortunately, his tournament was cut short in the second game against Latvia after he collided with the goalpost, breaking his clavicle, and as of March 5, has yet to return to the ice.

Schaefer has shown time and time again that he is a top-tier two-way defenceman who can do everything right. He can play a highly mobile, offensive style like Cale Makar, driving the play forward with elite skating and can either set up teammates with hard, accurate passes or fire the puck on net himself with strong, quick wrist shots. His speed and agility are two of the most developed parts of his game, making him a joy to watch whenever he gets the puck.

Without the puck, Schaefer is still dominant. He aggressively pressures the opposing puck carriers, forcing them to make mistakes and create turnovers. At 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, he’s not the most physically intimidating player on the ice, but he doesn’t shy away from physicality and knows when to throw a bone-crushing hit at the right time. He is also a great shot-blocker and penalty-killer, allowing his coaches to trust him in every situation.

Schaefer may not be a generational talent like Connor Bedard or a unanimous first-overall choice like Macklin Celebrini, but his ability to affect every aspect of the game makes him one of the most dominant of his draft class. He does everything at a high level already, and any weaknesses one might find are more the result of his age – his birthday was just 11 days away from putting him in the 2026 Draft – and lack of strength, both of which will take time. While there is some debate around whether he’ll be 2025’s top choice, there’s no question that Schaefer is the best defenceman available in the 2025 Draft.

Matthew Schaefer – NHL Draft Projection

Despite some claims that Schaefer is easily the best player available, it’s still unclear whether Schaefer will be the first overall selection. James Hagens is a fantastic all-around offensive player, Michael Misa is a dangerous sniper, and Porter Martone is an offensively gifted power forward. All four have been rated the top prospect available and, depending on which team ends up with the top pick, could realistically be the number one pick in 2025. Still, Schaefer’s dominant two-way game gives him an edge that his competition doesn’t have. Even if he doesn’t go first overall, he won’t fall out of the top three.

Quotables

“Schaefer is extremely confident on the backend when he has possession of the puck. From changing the pace of his speed on the rush to displaying great hands and puck skills to get around the defenders when attacking with intent, he’s a catalyst and gets results. He’s very mature for his age and the fact that he’s a draft-eligible player that cracked Canada’s defence, really says it all about his game. He’s skilled, smart defensively and lays it out all on the line. He’s that good.” – Peter Baracchini, The Hockey Writers

“Schaefer is a marvellous skater who can move the puck up the ice quickly with his feet or his hands. His offensive instincts are top-notch. He can make plays; he can score goals. He’s totally fearless — the broken collarbone happened while driving hard to the net — and he’s constantly looking to be in attack mode. He can run a power play; he can walk the blueline and get shots through from the point, and even if he’s caught deep in the offensive zone on offensive forays, he can swiftly race back into defensive position. Without the puck, he can defend physically or cerebrally. He has a great stick; his gap control is excellent. He’s a premier penalty killer and his game is suited to all situations in all zones.” – Bob McKenzie, TSN

“Schaefer hasn’t played since suffering an injury during the World Juniors, but it definitely hasn’t hurt his draft stock. That’s a rarity when you have a fight near the top of the draft, but scouts love everything he brings to the table. He’s so smart, so skilled, and the results at just about every single level have been so promising. You can see some similarities between Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes in the way he moves and makes decisions with the puck. Schaefer is hard to beat in 1-on-1 situations, and despite playing close to 30 minutes a night with Erie, he still found ways to have some outstanding underlying analytics. Schaefer is a special talent, and he’s going to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL sooner rather than later.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“Schaefer’s game stands out for his maturity, intelligence, and efficiency. Despite being nearly eligible for the 2026 draft, he plays with poise and decision-making well beyond his years. A dynamic two-way defenseman, he’s a high-end skater with smooth edges, balanced posture, and mobility in all directions. He’s adept at managing play, using his stick effectively to disrupt opponents, and transitioning play up the ice. With his combination of skill, mobility, and hockey IQ, Schaefer projects as a potential No. 1 defenseman and remains firmly in the conversation for the top tier of the 2025 draft class.” – Chris Ford, SMAHT Scouting

Strengths

Under Construction/Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Schaefer projects to be a star number-one defenceman in the NHL in the mould of Scott Niedermayer, Miro Heiskanen, or Rasmus Dahlin. He uses his skating and high hockey IQ to drive the play and control the offence, yet he can be relied on to play a physical, shutdown defensive style when needed. There are few players available who can control the game the way he does, which is all the more impressive considering that he’s one of the youngest players eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. He’ll need to add more strength before he’s an NHL threat, but when he arrives, he’ll be difficult to stop.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 1/5, Reward – 5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense – 8/10, Defence – 7/10

Awards/Achievements

Interviews/Links

Matthew Schaefer Stats

Videos