NHL draft prospect, Hamilton's Matthew Schaefer, on dealing with serious injury and the death of his mom

John Wawrow · The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 10, 2025 8:47 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Matthew Schaefer's collarbone is fine, and truthful is the Erie Otter defenseman's position connected dealing with adversity.

Missing the last 3 months of the play entering his draught eligible year, the 17-year-old said, is thing compared to what NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked North American skater has already endured.

Schaefer mislaid his mother, Jennifer, to bosom crab successful February 2024. Two months earlier, his billet parent successful Erie was struck and killed by a train, with her decease ruled a suicide.

"I've been done a batch successful my beingness and I'd alternatively an wounded than losing idiosyncratic I love," Schaefer said Friday astatine the NHL's yearly pre-draft harvester successful Buffalo. "I mean, there's a batch worse things that tin hap than injuries.

As for recovering from the collarbone helium broke successful December, Schaefer said: "I'm beauteous affirmative with my mindset and I'm driven to privation to travel back. So yeah, evidently injuries, they're not fun. But I'm driven to get amended and travel backmost adjacent stronger."

Schaefer was cleared to resume skating May 1 and plans to instrumentality portion successful each of the combine's spot and agility tests with the objection of the seat property and pullups.

Schaefer is ranked up of Oakville, Ont.'s Michael Misa

Upbeat and talkative, helium showed nary hint of the symptom he's dealt with by engaging reporters successful opening the property league by saying: "What's going connected today? Everybody good?"

Schaefer past proceeded to playfully gag and besides compliment Saginaw Spirit guardant Michael Misa, with whom helium shared the podium and is the No. 2-ranked North American skater.

"Not capable to play arsenic much, I got to ticker a small much and got to cognize him. Great feline connected and disconnected ice," Schaefer said, earlier saying he'd beryllium blessed if Misa was selected up of him.

Schaefer past displayed humility by acknowledging being amazed to support the No. 1 ranking contempt having his play chopped abbreviated aft being wounded representing Canada astatine the satellite inferior championships.

"I played lone 17 games and, you know, wherefore are you astatine the apical of that list?" helium said. "I played successful those 17 games, I took it arsenic opportunities and I worked arsenic hard arsenic I could and near it each retired there."

NHL Central Scouting main Dan Marr told The Associated Press the statement successful ranking Schaefer implicit Misa was close, and wouldn't beryllium amazed if Misa oregon perhaps, Boston College halfway James Hagens, goes No. 1 successful the draught successful Los Angles connected June 27.

Hagens is from Long Island and the top-ranked American-born skater. The top-ranked European skaters are Sweden inferior teammates, halfway Anton Frondell and close helping Victor Eklund, who's member William plays for San Jose.

The New York Islanders person the archetypal pick, followed by San Jose and Chicago.

What separated Schaefer from the remainder successful the rankings, Marr said, was what helium showed successful his 17 games with Erie, and his show astatine the Canada's Under-18 summertime camp.

From Hamilton, Schaefer displayed his violative abilities successful scoring 7 goals and 22 points with Erie past season. That's what scouts were looking for pursuing his rookie play successful which Schaefer had 3 goals and 17 points successful 56 games.

Listed astatine 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, Schaefer is simply a two-way defenseman with beardown skating and play-making ability.

The New York Islanders person the archetypal prime successful the NHL draught connected June 27

Misa, is from Oakville, Ontario, and enjoyed a breakout 3rd play successful Saginaw portion making the power from helping to center.

Granted exceptional presumption to play astatine 15 successful 2022, helium led each Canadian Hockey League players this play with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) — the astir by an OHL subordinate 17 oregon younger since John Tavares successful 2006-07. Tavares, present with Toronto, went No. 1 prime 2009 draught to the Islanders.

Schaefer enjoyed the interrogation process implicit the past week, and said helium had meal with some the Islanders and Sharks.

"I'm a talker. I emotion each these interviews and stuff, it keeps maine busy," Schaefer said.

He past jokingly frowned erstwhile informed Misa had 4 dinners.

Misa holds Schaefer successful precocious regard, and besides acknowledged he'd beryllium good if the defenseman was selected up of him.

"You cognize what you're getting from him each night. He's each implicit the ice," Misa said. "When helium does marque that leap to the NHL, helium is going to person nary occupation fitting in."

Smiling, Schaefer turned to Misa and said: "Thanks, bro."