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

[macbowes]

Sounds like he's close to coming back, which is great news.

 

[Dominance]

First game back in action tonight.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849595603598156191

 

[AMScouting]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854548694126972930

 

[Artaud]

Is Doughty a good comp for this kid?

 

[Mathieukferland]

Is Doughty a good comp for this kid?

Sanderson would be mine

 

[Mathieukferland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854726413187740126

This guy is unreal, best défense prospect I’ve seen in the 2020s

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

From the little I've seen, he should be very much be in the mix for 1st overall.

 

[Sacha BOXviert]

Is Doughty a good comp for this kid?

Heiskanen

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Sanderson would be mine

He evokes memories of Scott Niedermayer for me.

 

[wetcoast]

Is Doughty a good comp for this kid?

I'm not sure about style of play that's why I hate comps but in terms of impact yes I'd say so and expect him to go top 3 in the draft, he is just titling the ice since his return late in the 3rd period his stat line reads 8-3-7-10 +10

 

[BKarchitect]

I’m a Hagens-stan but I don’t think it is crazy to suggest depending on the team, Schaefer could get some #1 buzz. Forwards are a much safer proposition of course but this kid is something…and he’s going to crush in the “intangibles and leadership” section of interviews. His handled so much adversity and such a young age and just keeps growing.

He’s seems…special.

 

[jtechkid]

I’m a Hagens-stan but I don’t think it is crazy to suggest depending on the team, Schaefer could get some #1 buzz. Forwards are a much safer proposition of course but this kid is something…and he’s going to crush in the “intangibles and leadership” section of interviews. His handled so much adversity and such a young age and just keeps growing.

He’s seems…special.

Agree - I think he’s a lock at top 3 in this year draft . He’s the best dmen prospects i’ve seen in a while .

 

[67 others]

Heiskanen

So he sucks on the PP but is good at everything else?

 

[LeProspector]

he is going to go #1 on draft day I think.

 

[Riggins]

he is going to go #1 on draft day I think.

Didn't you say he was trash last year?

 

[Riggins]

What a bad take. This guy sucks.

he is going to go #1 on draft day I think.

The duality of man.

 

[BKarchitect]

If they all keep it up, I think #1 is going to come down to Hagens, Martone or Schaefer. I think Misa still has a chance to go top three, depending on the dominos, but personally I would still lean Hagens if I need a center..he does so many of the little things.

But for this exercise…you’ve got your franchise center, franchise power winger or franchise defenseman.

Of the “bad” teams who have a reasonable shot at a lotto win - which would actually consider the defenseman at #1 over either forward?

San Jose…comes to mind. I think Dickinson projects really well as a pro but I’m not sure he projects as “the guy” on your championship foundation defense. They have Celebrini and Smith up the middle. Martone could be attractive as well as a big-bodied star power/skill forward and I know both Dickinson and Schaefer are LHD…but it seems like Schaefer could really be the finishing piece to the rebuild with Askarov now in the building in net.

Philly I think goes Hagens. No brainer there, I think.

Montreal…Hagens, probably? I do question whether they would view Hagens-Suzuki too lightweight down the middle but I think Dach is a better winger than center.

I think the Jackets would give Schaefer strong consideration, with Fantilli and Lindstrom in the middle and pretty good wing depth already.

The Ducks seem to have high level blue-chip talent all over the place…not sure what the lean there would be?

For Chicago…I think any of the three seem reasonable. Bedard and Hagens in the middle. Martone as the big bodied star next to Bedard. Or Schaefer with Levshunov and Vlasic on the blueline.

 

[LeProspector]

The duality of man.

I was wrong with that first sentence. Simple as that.

 

[ORRFForever]

If they all keep it up, I think #1 is going to come down to Hagens, Martone or Schaefer. I think Misa still has a chance to go top three, depending on the dominos, but personally I would still lean Hagens if I need a center..he does so many of the little things.

But for this exercise…you’ve got your franchise center, franchise power winger or franchise defenseman.

Of the “bad” teams who have a reasonable shot at a lotto win - which would actually consider the defenseman at #1 over either forward?

San Jose…comes to mind. I think Dickinson projects really well as a pro but I’m not sure he projects as “the guy” on your championship foundation defense. They have Celebrini and Smith up the middle. Martone could be attractive as well as a big-bodied star power/skill forward and I know both Dickinson and Schaefer are LHD…but it seems like Schaefer could really be the finishing piece to the rebuild with Askarov now in the building in net.

Philly I think goes Hagens. No brainer there, I think.

Montreal…Hagens, probably? I do question whether they would view Hagens-Suzuki too lightweight down the middle but I think Dach is a better winger than center.

I think the Jackets would give Schaefer strong consideration, with Fantilli and Lindstrom in the middle and pretty good wing depth already.

The Ducks seem to have high level blue-chip talent all over the place…not sure what the lean there would be?

For Chicago…I think any of the three seem reasonable. Bedard and Hagens in the middle. Martone as the big bodied star next to Bedard. Or Schaefer with Levshunov and Vlasic on the blueline.

Well thought out analysis.

 

[ORRFForever]

Well thought out analysis.

At this point, the top 3 players are so close, as you said, it comes down to need.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he’ll only go 1OA if he’s considered the best player in the draft. I can’t remember a time when a team had the first pick and chose based on positional need.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

You'd think the Penguins would like him a lot since they don't have any top end D in their pool

 

[rahad]

If they all keep it up, I think #1 is going to come down to Hagens, Martone or Schaefer. I think Misa still has a chance to go top three, depending on the dominos, but personally I would still lean Hagens if I need a center..he does so many of the little things.

But for this exercise…you’ve got your franchise center, franchise power winger or franchise defenseman.

Of the “bad” teams who have a reasonable shot at a lotto win - which would actually consider the defenseman at #1 over either forward?

San Jose…comes to mind. I think Dickinson projects really well as a pro but I’m not sure he projects as “the guy” on your championship foundation defense. They have Celebrini and Smith up the middle. Martone could be attractive as well as a big-bodied star power/skill forward and I know both Dickinson and Schaefer are LHD…but it seems like Schaefer could really be the finishing piece to the rebuild with Askarov now in the building in net.

Philly I think goes Hagens. No brainer there, I think.

Montreal…Hagens, probably? I do question whether they would view Hagens-Suzuki too lightweight down the middle but I think Dach is a better winger than center.

I think the Jackets would give Schaefer strong consideration, with Fantilli and Lindstrom in the middle and pretty good wing depth already.

The Ducks seem to have high level blue-chip talent all over the place…not sure what the lean there would be?

For Chicago…I think any of the three seem reasonable. Bedard and Hagens in the middle. Martone as the big bodied star next to Bedard. Or Schaefer with Levshunov and Vlasic on the blueline.

Chicago will 100% go with a power forward like Martone. Creating room for Bedard and bringing a rare combo of size and skill.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

This guy is my fav prospect right now, just an unreal talent.

Agree - I think he’s a lock at top 3 in this year draft . He’s the best dmen prospects i’ve seen in a while .

It’s going to be a tough pill to swallow not drafting this kid, might be a blessing in disguise to be 2nd or 3rd this upcoming draft.

 

[Intangir]

Very impressed with this kid.

He's so polished already defensively, skates so well, and gaps-up like it's nobody's business at the CHL level. I also like his reads offensively, how he doesn't overcomplicate matters yet still creates a lot, and how he manages to find seams to shoot through and get his shot on net.

I'd have Schaefer fourth on my list right now, after Martone, Hagens, and Misa. But if he continues to play like he did against Sarnia his last game, he could yet rise on my list.

I think I'd rate Schaefer a tiny smidge higher than Dickinson in 2024, whom I had at #3 in my list to end the year.

Overall, I'm quite high on this draft's top-end players. There's no McKenna on board, but Martone, Hagens, Misa, and Schaefer all track to be first-line/first-pairing guys at the NHL level and also have ways to succeed at that level if they can't quite become top-tier guys.