D Matt Schaefer - Erie Otters, OHL (2025 Draft)

[Wieters]

Bob is saying 2-3 months. Going to require surgery.

On the USA/Latvia broadcast today, they said he had the surgery today.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Collarbone is usually a couple months. Still #1 in my books

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Before the injury I think most teams would lean him going first. Now with that injury- if Hagens does really well at this tournament that should just able seal it with Hagens

Based on what?

 

[frontsfan67]

Based on what?

Injuries. If Schaefer is out half the season he may go down a couple spots. It’s tight as it is

 

[funky]

Big blow to Team Canada. He will stay close to number 1. If this kid ends up with the Sharks, they will be set. At all major positions.

Celebrini
Smith
Schaefer
Askarov

Plus youngsters like Dickenson, Eklund, Musty,

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

The injury sucks. If he slides in the draft because of it, some team is going to get a steal!

Nobody is gonna drop a kid because of a bone break that has a 99.9% full recovery rate.

 

[scoutman1]

Nobody is gonna drop a kid because of a bone break that has a 99.9% full recovery rate.

he started the year hurt and now hurt again...that will play on a few teams decision making

 

[hawksrule]

he started the year hurt and now hurt again...that will play on a few teams decision making

He had mono.

 

[canuckslover10]

Big blow to Team Canada. He will stay close to number 1. If this kid ends up with the Sharks, they will be set. At all major positions.

Celebrini
Smith
Schaefer
Askarov

Plus youngsters like Dickenson, Eklund, Musty,

They need a RD for sure,I'd rather take Porter Martone tbh.

 

[wetcoast]

I agree this isn't the type of injury that should effect him long term. It'd be one thing if it was a back problem, neck issues, knee problems. The only thing that might hurt his stock would be some recency bias. Don't see a guy for 3 months while someone else pops off. Hopefully he can come back for the playoffs. He has every tool. Scouts aren't going to forget that so his drop shouldn't be outside of the big 4.

Agree on this, his impact as a draft guy guy can't be overlooked.

Erie with Matt

10-6-1 with Schaefer

Without Matt

6-4-2-1

His line is 17-7-15-22 (+21) as he simply titlts the ice out there.

he's not sliding from this he'll still be the favourite for 1st. Pretty similar player to Byram except a little more calm/less physical

I love Bryam but Matt is on a higher level and I expect much more from Matt.

Mind injuries have curtailed Bryam a bit but still Matt's skating and IQ is off the charts.

 

[matt trick]

They need a RD for sure,I'd rather take Porter Martone tbh.

Organizational were weakest at RD and RW. Smith had looked best at RW though (ultimately he projects as a C, but if we had Misa I’d out Smith on his wing). That said as long as we get a future #1 D, I’m confident we can build a top defense even if they shoot left.

Yes, Walman, Ferraro, Schaefer, Dickinson, Muk, Cagnoni, Wallenius, and Thrun are all left handed dmen. However, needing a couple second pairing RHD to play with your big mobile two-way kids in Schaefer and Dickinson is a much easier problem to solve than ‘needing a #1 Dman’.

Pesce, Skjei, Marino, Fabbro, Roy, and Walker all moved teams in the past year. It’s not cheap or easy, but with the sharks assets, they can find 2nd pair right handed dmen.

Martone would be awesome with Celebrini and Eklund, but we need a dman more. If Schaefer is gone, I’d be thrilled with any of the three forwards.

Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, one of Musty/Cherny/Haltunnen/Graf, and a top 10 pick in 2026 ought to be enough to build a top tier top 6. Same goes for Schaefer and Dickinson playing close to 50 minutes a night in front of Askarov.

Any of the top 4 would be great for SJ, but Schaefer is exactly what we need.

 

[Jacob]

We just need elite talent at any position. We need a future #1 d-man and a couple forwards that can shoulder a large scoring load.

We’re 13th from the bottom but 4 points separates us from 7th from the bottom.

Just start shutting the old guys down in the last few weeks of the season.

 

[BKarchitect]

I love Bryam but Matt is on a higher level and I expect much more from Matt.

Mind injuries have curtailed Bryam a bit but still Matt's skating and IQ is off the charts.

Agreed, Byram was one hell of a prospect and I can see the pure athletic and tools comp but I think Schaefer’s on-ice IQ is a different level and I think that’s going to unlock a different player at the highest level.

If there is any prospect who is going to take a few months sidelined from a broken collarbone in stride and come back even stronger - it’s this kid, for sure. Bad luck on the eve of his draft but my gosh, this isn’t even remotely close to other things he’s dealt with. I suspect it won’t hurt his draft stock one iota. Strong draft up top so doesn’t mean he’s a lock for #1 but I don’t think being shelved for a few months is going to dissuade any team that has him at the top.

Organizational were weakest at RD and RW. Smith had looked best at RW though (ultimately he projects as a C, but if we had Misa I’d out Smith on his wing). That said as long as we get a future #1 D, I’m confident we can build a top defense even if they shoot left.

Yes, Walman, Ferraro, Schaefer, Dickinson, Muk, Cagnoni, Wallenius, and Thrun are all left handed dmen. However, needing a couple second pairing RHD to play with your big mobile two-way kids in Schaefer and Dickinson is a much easier problem to solve than ‘needing a #1 Dman’.

Pesce, Skjei, Marino, Fabbro, Roy, and Walker all moved teams in the past year. It’s not cheap or easy, but with the sharks assets, they can find 2nd pair right handed dmen.

Martone would be awesome with Celebrini and Eklund, but we need a dman more. If Schaefer is gone, I’d be thrilled with any of the three forwards.

Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, one of Musty/Cherny/Haltunnen/Graf, and a top 10 pick in 2026 ought to be enough to build a top tier top 6. Same goes for Schaefer and Dickinson playing close to 50 minutes a night in front of Askarov.

Any of the top 4 would be great for SJ, but Schaefer is exactly what we need.

To me it’s like saying “We’ve got Smith, no need to get Celebrini.” You can figure out the pairings as you go, you do NOT pass on Schaefer because Dickinson is also a LHD. The likes of Walman and Ferraro should not be factors if we are being honest about what the actual future Sharks team will be and if Muk is like most Russian defensemen he can probably play his off-hand side as well. I think the line of thinking would be more like “we can create two amazing pairings and have Schaefer or Dickinson on the ice for 45-50 minutes a night”.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

That sucks . Still take him number 1 . Hes that good/ talented

 

[HFpapi]

The 1st overall pick is almost always (perceived) BPA but this year I really think it will be positional and depend heavily on who is drafting first.

I don't see a world in which the Sharks don't take Schaefer 1st overall. I don't see a world in which the Sabres or Red Wings don't take Hagens (or Martone).

Hawks and Preds are wildcards.