Even though Matthew Schaefer suffered a collarbone injury during the World Junior Championship, he still maintains his position as the top prospect in TSN's Mid-Season 2025 NHL Draft Rankings. Despite uncertainty surrounding his return to the ice this season, the Erie Otter defenseman received unanimous first-place votes from NHL scouts. His exceptional skating, offensive instincts, and defensive prowess have solidified his place as a top prospect.
Even though Matthew Schaefer broke his collarbone while playing for Canada at the World Junior Championship - undergoing surgery to repair it on December 30 - and won’t play another game until April, if at all this season, he cruised to the No. 1 spot in TSN ’s Mid-Season 2025 NHL Draft Rankings.The Erie Otter defenceman was a unanimous No. 1 selection in TSN ’s survey of 10 NHL club team scouts.
The survey was conducted between January 7-14 - after the WJC but just prior to the Ontario Hockey League Top Prospects and USA Hockey Top Prospects Games on January 15 and 16, respectively. “As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “ Matthew Schaefer is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season.”Not only did Schaefer garner all 10 first-place votes, seven of the 10 scouts declared there is a “substantial” gap between the Stoney Creek, Ont., native and the rest of the 2025 draft class. Two others described the gap as “moderate,” but one said it was only “minuscule.” “I suppose it’s possible not playing and those other guys playing could close the gap,” another scout said. “And, who knows? Maybe on draft day (reportedly June 27 in Los Angeles) someone other than Schaefer will go No. 1, but I don’t think so. He’s in a class all by himself.” Boston College freshman centre James Hagens, who was No. 1 on TSN’s pre-season list in September, is No. 2 on the mid-season rankings. Saginaw Spirit centre Michael Misa, who was No. 7 in September, is No. 3, followed by Brampton Steelheads right winger Porter Martone (No. 4 in September) at No. 4 and Swedish centre Anton Frondell (3) at No. 5. “I obviously can’t speak for other teams,” added a third scout, “but the only race I see now is for No. 2.” The dissenting view goes to the scout who described the gap between Schaefer and the rest of the field as extremely narrow. “With those two centres right behind him there, and with Schaefer not playing, it still could be a close call for someone,” the scout said. But as long as there are no lingering issues with Schaefer’s surgically repaired collarbone, the conventional wisdom is that it will be really difficult for an NHL team picking first overall to go by a dynamic top-pair defenceman who could very well have every attribute you look for in a true No. 1 blueliner. Schaefer is a marvelous skater who can move the puck up the ice quickly with his feet or his hands. His offensive instincts are top notch. He can make plays; he can score goals. He’s totally fearless — the broken collarbone happened while driving hard to the net — and he’s constantly looking to be in attack mode. He can run a power play; he can walk the blueline and get shots through from the point, and even if he’s caught deep in the offensive zone on offensive forays, he can swiftly race back into defensive position Without the puck, he can defend physically or cerebrally. He has a great stick; his gap control is excellent. He’s a premier penalty killer and his game is suited to all situations in all zones. Until he was injured in the second game of the WJC, against Latvia, he was Canada’s best and most noticeable player. No one wants to saddle him with the burden of unrealistic expectations, but when the NHL scouts were asked to identify NHL players with similar playing styles, not to be confused with anyone saying he will be a Hall of Famer or Norris Trophy winner, the comparables were quite favourable. Schaefer is still only 17 years old. He doesn’t turn 18 until September 5, and just misses being eligible for the 2026 NHL draft by 10 days. Schaefer’s recovery time from his surgery was estimated to be approximately three months. If all were to go well on that timeline, the defenceman would hypothetically be able to return by the end of March or early April. But the OHL regular season ends on March 23. Erie would probably have to get out of the first round of the playoffs to entertain any notion of a possible return this season for Schaefer, although one could reasonably question the wisdom of inserting Schaefer back into the heat of the OHL playoffs coming off a three-month absence.Three of the next four prospects rated after Schaefer on the TSN mid-season list are centres. At No. 2, Boston College freshman pivot Hagens played well for Team USA en route to a gold-medal performance at the WJC. He got off to a bit of a slow start at BC this season. Hagens is not quite 6 feet tall (5-foot-10 1/2, 177 pounds), which is probably why the scouts are projecting him more as a second-line centre than a first liner in the NHL. But he’s a smart and skilled player, probably a better playmaker than goal scorer, but he certainly has the ability to finish.Saginaw centre Misa, who has 37 goals in 38 games this season, vaulted up from No. 7 in the pre-season to No. 3 now. One scout ranked Misa second overall; five others had him at No. 3. “He’s a centre with nice size, high-end skill and elite scoring ability,” said the scout who ranked Misa No. 3.
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Matthew Schaefer Takes Top Spot in TSN's 2025 NHL Draft RankingErie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer ascends to the No. 1 position in Craig Button's latest 2025 NHL draft ranking, showcasing his impressive skills and potential. Meanwhile, Djurgardens forward Anton Frondell climbs to No. 2, demonstrating his own talent and leadership qualities.
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