Eliteprospects
Canada Matthew Schaefer This Player is Verified by Elite Prospects
#48 New York Islanders / NHL - 25/26
1-time U17 WHC Gold Medal 1
1-time U18 WJC Gold Medal 1
1-time Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal 1
1-time CHL Top Draft Prospect Award 1
1-time OHL First All-Rookie Team 1
1-time U17 WHC All-Star Team 1
Date of Birth
Sep 05, 2007
Position
D
Age
18
Height
6'2" / 188 cm
Place of Birth
Hamilton, ON, CAN
Weight
185 lbs / 84 kg
Nation
Canada
Shoots
L
Youth Team
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs MHA
Contract
27/28
Cap Hit
$975,000 Powered by
NHL Rights
New York Islanders New York Islanders / Signed
Drafted
2025 round 1 #1 overall by New York Islanders
Agency
PREMIUM

Schaefer controls games from the back end, making the play flow through him. An elite puck-rusher, he takes off from behind his net, using it as a shield against the forecheck, and traverses the defensive zone with a few long strides. He spots teammates in every direction, making both one-touch plays and elaborate, deceptive feeds. Attacking down, he grabs the spotlight and draws opponents to him, before turning and relaying the puck across. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

Brother: Jonathon Schaefer

© Photo: Bildbyrån

Use/Embed statistics

Matthew Schaefer Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2021-22 Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U15 AAA SCTA U15 31* 17* 34* 51* 14* -* | Playoffs 2 1 1 2 2 -
Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U16 AAA SCTA U16 3* 1* 1* 2* 2* -* | Playoffs 2 1 1 2 2 -
2022-23 Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA SCTA U16 25* 12* 20* 32* 14* -* | Playoffs 5 6 8 14 0 -
2023-24 Erie Otters OHL 56* 3* 14* 17* 16* -2* | Playoffs 6 0 3 3 2 4
Canada White U17 “C” WHC-17 8* 1* 3* 4* 6* -* |
Canada U18 WJC-18 7* 1* 4* 5* 2* 8* |
2024-25 Erie Otters “A” OHL 17* 7* 15* 22* 8* 21* |
Canada U20 WJC-20 2* 1* 1* 2* 0* 2* |
2025-26 New York Islanders NHL 30* 8* 13* 21* 14* 9* |
Projected NHL 82* 22* 36* 58* 38* 25* |
2023-24 NHL stats powered by NHL.com

Matthew Schaefer Tournament Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2021-22 Draftday Selects U15 WSI U15 9* 1* 6* 7* -* -* |
2022-23 Team Ontario CWG 6* 3* 3* 6* 4* -* |
Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA OHL Cup 4* 1* 3* 4* 0* 2* |
2024-25 Canada U18 “C” Hlinka Gretzky Cup 5* 2* 4* 6* 0* -* |
Team CHL Prospects Challenge 2* 1* 1* 2* 2* 3* |

Matthew Schaefer Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
CWG 1 6* 3* 3* 6* 1.00* 4* -* | 0 * * * * * *
Hlinka Gretzky Cup 1 5* 2* 4* 6* 1.20* 0* -* | 0 * * * * * *
NHL 1 30* 8* 13* 21* 0.70* 14* 9* | 0 * * * * * *
OHL 2 73* 10* 29* 39* 0.53* 24* 19* | 1 6 0 * 3 * 3 * 0.50 * 2 * 4 *
OHL Cup 1 4* 1* 3* 4* 1.00* 0* 2* | 0 * * * * * *
Prospects Challenge 1 2* 1* 1* 2* 1.00* 2* 3* | 0 * * * * * *
SCTA U15 1 31* 17* 34* 51* 1.65* 14* -* | 1 2 1 * 1 * 2 * 1.00 * 2 * - *
SCTA U16 2 28* 13* 21* 34* 1.21* 16* -* | 2 7 7 * 9 * 16 * 2.29 * 2 * - *
WHC-17 1 8* 1* 3* 4* 0.50* 6* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WJC-18 1 7* 1* 4* 5* 0.71* 2* 8* | 0 * * * * * *
WJC-20 1 2* 1* 1* 2* 1.00* 0* 2* | 0 * * * * * *
WSI U15 1 9* 1* 6* 7* 0.78* -* -* | 0 * * * * * *

Matthew Schaefer Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
08/05/2025
08/05/2025 Confirmed Erie Otters New York Islanders
05/21/2023
05/21/2023 Confirmed Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA Erie Otters
Player Biography and Trivia

Drafted 2023, 1 #1 overall by Erie Otters in the OHL Priority Selection

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by Elite Prospects

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by ISS Hockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by FCHockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by TSN/Craig Button

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by NHL Central Scouting

2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #1 by DobberProspects