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

[BKarchitect]

Or from an Islanders fan memory Dal Colle. At least Patrick you can claim he could have been something if it wasn't for injury troube. Dal Colle just sucked. lol

Just from my memory going into a draft the guys I remember with the most hype

Larsson - sort of the James Hagens of his draft lots of #1 hype for years but come 5-6 months before the draft people soured on him a bit

Jones - seem to be a late riser although was picked 4th(and 2 f the 3 teams above him made the right choice).

Hanafin, when you are constantly rated 3rd in a deep draft where the top 2 guys are Eichel and McDavid, yeah that is pretty high praise.

Yeah you are right on Hanifin. He was such an early bloomer (elite 17 year-old NCAA season) and elite physical talent and 2015 was just legendary.

Werenski deserves a mention for sure too in this “all time defenseman prospect” group. Boy did he ever live up to it once he got right health-wise this year.

 

[MrCreamm]

Yeah you are right on Hanifin. He was such an early bloomer (elite 17 year-old NCAA season) and elite physical talent and 2015 was just legendary.

Werenski deserves a mention for sure too in this “all time defenseman prospect” group. Boy did he ever live up to it once he got right health-wise this year.

I thought for sure Hanifin would become an elite top pairing guy with his physical skills.

 

[Osakahaus]

I think that the Islanders would be foolish to pass up on Schaeffer, but the reality is that they can take him and allow him to develop for a few seasons in the OHL.

 

[boredmale]

I think that the Islanders would be foolish to pass up on Schaeffer, but the reality is that they can take him and allow him to develop for a few seasons in the OHL.

As an Islanders fan there is no way I would want him playing next year. Given his age and the fact eh missed like 2/3rds of last season he definitely needs a bit more development, although I may try guide him to NCAA that way he can work out more

 

[Osakahaus]

As an Islanders fan there is no way I would want him playing next year. Given his age and the fact eh missed like 2/3rds of last season he definitely needs a bit more development, although I may try guide him to NCAA that way he can work out more

again, let him develop. the isles could definitely wait to see him grow. Same with Hagens or Misa.

 

[frontsfan67]

OHL = more games, which compensates for his shortened season, but to be NHL ready he needs to fill out so NCAA = more off ice training and conditioning.

A poster on this forum said Erie is supposed to be ass next year so maybe going to BU (who just lost Willander) is the play?

You know they can make trades right? If he came back to the OHL he would go to a big time contender- long playoff run etc

 

[seafoam]

You know they can make trades right? If he came back to the OHL he would go to a big time contender- long playoff run etc

I understand they can make trades, but the NCAA may be better for his development anyway.

 

[Kingpin794]

I understand they can make trades, but the NCAA may be better for his development anyway.

It doesn't matter which one he goes to. It never does for the highest end prospects. What he does for 1 season won't make a difference.

 

[saintunspecified]

It doesn't matter which one he goes to. It never does for the highest end prospects. What he does for 1 season won't make a difference.

It doesn't really, but there are two things that would make NCAA preferable - the shorter schedule gives more opportunity for strength training, and the NCAA game is structured much more like pro hockey (the difference will become *more* pronounced if many good/older CHL players go to the NCAA) .

 

[SI90]

Nobody wants to talk about Schaefer anymore because he’s going to be an islander lol

 

[Konk]

Nobody wants to talk about Schaefer anymore because he’s going to be an islander lol

Welcome Matthew Schaefer to hockey irrelevance!

Once selected, his stock will drop instantly.

 

[SI90]

Welcome Matthew Schaefer to hockey irrelevance!

Once selected, his stock will drop instantly.

It’s hilarious

 

[Konk]

It’s hilarious

You have to laugh at it, because we know it's going to happen. It's like they disappear until they get traded or sign somewhere else.

 

[seafoam]

It sure sounded like Darche is leaning towards Schaefer.

He kept mentioning the importance of "defending" over playing "defensive" and that it's not too often you get an opportunity to select "the best player in the draft" as if he was referring to someone specifically and not talking in broad strokes.

 

[SI90]

It sure sounded like Darche is leaning towards Schaefer.

He kept mentioning the importance of "defending" over playing "defensive" and that it's not too often you get an opportunity to select "the best player in the draft" as if he was referring to someone specifically and not talking in broad strokes.

Play fast and still defend. He kept saying it. Schaefer fits the play fast motto for sure. Hagens does as well.

If I had to bet I think it’s 90% that Schaefer will be the pick. And like @Konk and myself pointed out, he’s already being treated like an islander

 

[seafoam]

Play fast and still defend. He kept saying it. Schaefer fits the play fast motto for sure. Hagens does as well.

If I had to bet I think it’s 90% that Schaefer will be the pick. And like @Konk and myself pointed out, he’s already being treated like an islander

To be fair, when you haven't played in ~4-5 months and are still the consensus top pick there is not much to discuss without beating a dead horse.

 

[Konk]

To be fair, when you haven't played in ~4-5 months and are still the consensus top pick there is not much to discuss without beating a dead horse.

You know damn well this thread will fully die the minute he pulls that jersey over his head.

I mean, at this point it's only Islanders fans keeping it on page 1. Look at all the names on this page... 90% Islander fans.

We'll go right back to our hole on June 29th and it'll hit page 2+ shortly thereafter.

 

[seafoam]

You know damn well this thread will fully die the minute he pulls that jersey over his head.

I mean, at this point it's only Islanders fans keeping it on page 1. Look at all the names on this page... 90% Islander fans.

We'll go right back to our hole on June 29th and it'll hit page 2+ shortly thereafter.

We like being the underdog though!

 

[Thrasymachus]

For top NHL draft prospect, hockey is big — but family is bigger

Experts suggest Schaefer could be the first Hamilton native to be chosen first overall in draft on June 27-28.

www.thespec.com

nice little puff piece.

Please help the good fans of Long Island Matt!

 

[matt trick]

For top NHL draft prospect, hockey is big — but family is bigger

Experts suggest Schaefer could be the first Hamilton native to be chosen first overall in draft on June 27-28.

www.thespec.com

nice little puff piece.

View attachment 1044482
Please help the good fans of Long Island Matt!

He seems like such a good dude.

 

[coooldude]

For top NHL draft prospect, hockey is big — but family is bigger

Experts suggest Schaefer could be the first Hamilton native to be chosen first overall in draft on June 27-28.

www.thespec.com

nice little puff piece.

View attachment 1044482
Please help the good fans of Long Island Matt!

He had me at Timmy's.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I still don't get the "The best defensemen don't go #1 overall, generally, so you need to beware picking Schaefer #1 overall" theory. I mean, I'm sure there is some evidence that blueliners in general take longer than forwards to reach impact maturity. But to me that is a slightly different argument.

Why would Schaefer have a better chance at being a franchise superstar if he is picked at #4 rather than at #1? To me this argument actually proves the opposite - there are plenty of drafts where a defenseman does end up being the "#1 guy in retrospect". Isn't the logic that maybe teams should pick top defensemen earlier rather than assume their order on draft day has some sort of mystical influence on how well they develop?

I've also seen the "Well look at all these underperformer #1 defensemen!" lists - well...by logic, if fewer defensemen are going #1, when one does bust, it maybe seems like a higher percentage. But do high end defensemen truly bust at a statically significant rate that is higher than their forward counterparts? Maybe there is some proof of that...but I don't see anybody in the Misa thread making the connection that "Misa is a risk because look at all these forwards who go #1 and underachieve...he could be Nolan Patrick or Nail Yakupov or Juraj Slafkovsky (I like Slaf, not a dig there just an example), that's scary!".

Yup.

If he's the best prospect you take him #1, develop him properly, and don't look back. Period.