Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, right, controls the puck against the Kitchener Rangers at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie on Nov. 23, 2024.

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Matthew Schaefer NHL Draft Projection – Overview, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Projection for 2025 NHL Entry Draft

Matthew Schaefer could go number one overall to the New York Islanders

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, right, controls the puck against the Kitchener Rangers at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie on Nov. 23, 2024.

The Stanley Cup Final is over, but that doesn’t mean that hockey fans have nothing to look forward to. The 2025 NHL draft is just around the corner, set to take place in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28. As is the case each year, there are plenty of talented youngsters getting ready to make their mark on the professional stage.

Among some of the top candidates for the draft this year is Matthew Schaefer. Let us take a brief look at Schaefer’s strengths, weaknesses, and what he has achieved in his amateur career thus far.

Matthew Schaefer Overview

Matthew Schaefer is a Canadian ice hockey player who plays as a defenseman. The left-handed shooter was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and has played the past two seasons with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Schaefer was the number one draft pick at the 2023 OHL draft, and in his first season with the Otters, he played 56 games in which he registered 3 goals and 14 assists. Last year, Schaefer missed the first nine games of the season due to mononucleosis, but got off to an excellent start, scoring 7 goals and racking up 15 assists in just the first 17 games after returning to the ice.

Unfortunately, though, he sustained a broken clavicle that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Even then, Schaefer has demonstrated his ability and is considered one of the top picks for this year’s NHL draft.

The award for the CHL’s Top Draft Prospect is none other than Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters. 👏 pic.twitter.com/jQw1mQygL2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 13, 2025

Matthew Schaefer Strengths

Heading into the draft, Schaefer is clearly considered to be a true number one defenseman, which just goes to show how talented he is. He is an exceptionally skilled skater, making his mobility a key aspect of his game.

Moreover, he has great acceleration and speed, leaving his opponents playing catch-up. His speed is equally effective on defense, with the ability to track down forwards quickly, and this allows him to press up on offense. He creates ample shooting and passing chances.

Despite being an attacking defenseman, he is not a liability on defense. Schaefer plays a smart brand of hockey, picking his moments on when to attack, ensuring his defensive duties are not affected.

Also Read: 2025 NHL Draft Picks per Team – Which Team Has the Most Picks for the NHL Draft This Year?

Matthew Schaefer Weaknesses

Being one of the top defenders and players, Schaefer enters the 2025 NHL draft with not too many weaknesses in his game. Perhaps the only two things he needs to work on are his physicality and shot variation.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing approximately 183 pounds, Schaefer has improved his physical strength in the past year, but that will still be an area to work on as he turns professional.

Additionally, the 17-year-old’s main weakness lies in his shot. Schaefer focuses more on accuracy rather than power. He usually prefers to take quick wrist shots and doesn’t go for the powerful slap shots or the one timer, something he can work on and incorporate into his game.

"There's a lot of talented players in this draft class so it's pretty cool."

The no. 1 ranked prospect for the 2025 #NHLDraft – Matthew Schaefer of the @ErieOtters – discusses being named the CHL's Top Draft Prospect #CHLAwards

📹 https://t.co/Yh9t3540c2 pic.twitter.com/FapWo87VeU
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 13, 2025

Matthew Schaefer Draft Projection

According to the NHL Central Scouting Ranking, Schaefer is the top-ranked skater in North America, and as per the draft projections, he is expected to be a top 3 draft pick, with many having him circled as the number one overall pick to the New York Islanders.

2025 NHL Draft

Matthew Schaefer

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!