Matthew Schaefer: What To Know About 2025 NHL Draft Prospect
Matthew Schaefer: What To Know About 2025 NHL Draft Prospect
Matthew Schaefer is the top prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft. Here's three things about him.
When Matthew Schaefer hears his name called at the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday June 27, it's a matter of when, not if. Schaefer has been the top prospect in this draft for the entire 2024-2025 season, despite missing significant time with an injury.
- Subscribe To Watch The Calder Cup Finals In 2025
- 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100
- FloHockey's 2025 NHL Mock Draft
- FloHockey's NHL Draft 2025 Coverage
Now, the Erie Otters star has the chance to make history, following in the footsteps of Connor McDavid. Learn more about Schaefer here.
Matt Schaefer Has Big Shoes To Fill
Matthew Schaefer, a left-handed defenseman from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, could be the first player out of the OHL to be selected first overall since Connor McDavid was picked first in 2015. In just 17 games, Schaefer had 22 points from seven goals and 15 assists and has been the projected No. 1 pick for the entire season. McDavid has had a stellar NHL Career, and has led the Edmonton Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
Scouts like what they’ve seen from him, even though he spent most of the season injured with a broken clavicle. He was cleared for contact on May 1, but not before missing 46 games, including nine OHL playoff games. Despite this, he’s still a favorite to be picked first in the NHL draft.
Matt Schaefer Tougher Than Most
Though just 17 years old, Schaefer has already been through more tragedy than most people experience in a lifetime. In December 2023, his billet mom, or host mom, died by apparent suicide. Two months later he lost his mother Jennifer to breast cancer.
His father has said that when Matthew does get picked, he’ll be holding his mother close to him, with pictures of her over his heart, stitched into his suit jacket.
Matt Schaefer Is Superman
Ahead of the NHL Draft, the NHL collaborated with DC Studios to create Fanimation cards of all of the top NHL draft prospects, inspired by superheroes. Schaefer was drawn using inspiration from Superman.
While Schaefer was not the only one drawn in this style, he’s now the face in the collaboration of the two brands in what DC is calling the “Summer of Superman.” Now, will he be the first overall pick to back up his being Superman?
FloHockey's Top 100 NHL Prospects
Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100 before the NHL Draft, see the full list here.
FloHockey's 2025 NHL Mock Draft
Chris Peters unveils his latest Mock Draft, predicting all 32 picks in the first round.
NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey
Watch the AHL, ECHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey
FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.
Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social
- Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
- Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
- Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
- Watch us on YouTube
- Like us on Facebook