Film Room: What Makes Matthew Schaefer 2025’s Top Prospect

Matthew Schaefer has the chance to be a special player.

He’s not the biggest player. His résumé is lacking eye-popping numbers. But there’s something inarguably desirable about his game. In a class loaded with centers and thin on defensemen, Schaefer brings true number-one potential with pro traits already in place.

He may not win a defensive scoring title, but he could easily anchor a playoff blue line for a decade-plus.

Battling Back: Injury and Resilience

This season was a test of Schaefer’s grit. After captaining Canada to Gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament last August, the 6-foot-2, left-handed defenceman was geared up to have a promising start with Erie of the OHL.

Until he was forced to miss significant time due to mononucleosis, sapping his energy and sidelining him for weeks.

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