Matthew Schaefer Scares Off NHL Scouts After He Makes Unexpected Darnell Nurse Comment

Top NHL and possible first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer was asked at the NHL combine who he models his game after, and he said Darnell Nurse of the Oilers.

Even after a cut-short campaign due to injury, Matthew Schaefer remains one of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft, and there's a very good reason he is.

The 6-foot-1 left-handed defenseman skated only 26 games this year, 17 of which in the OHL, where he notched 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists), and two at the World Juniors before a broken clavicle ended his season.

But during that limited time window, Schaefer left an enormous impact. Most impressive is his skating, which is actually NHL-quality.

Schaefer glides nicely, with a finish-top speed blast that allows him to blow by forecheckers and alter pressure with ease. He's a dynamo in transition and loves the rush, often going hard to the slot.

His confidence with the puck is a threat offensively at all times, whether on the rush or on a sneak-down from the point to create a scoring opportunity.

Offensively gifted and defensively minded, Schaefer recently compared his two-way play to Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.