Matthew Schaefer To Begin His Quest For No. 1 Overall In The 2025 NHL Draft

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won a lot and endured an enormous amount of personal loss. He should play his first game of the season Thursday night.

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won a lot and endured an enormous amount of personal loss. He'll play his first game of the 2024-25 season Thursday night.

There's little doubt that Matthew Schaefer has an enormous amount of catching up to do if he wants to be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL draft. That work begins Thursday night when the OHL's Erie Otters defenseman hits the ice for the first time this season.

We've been told Schaefer has finally been medically cleared to return to the lineup after a bout of mononucleosis kept him out of the first nine games of the season. But don't bet against him making up for lost time quickly, and definitely don't sleep on him making a serious case to go No. 1 in the draft.

Schaefer has terrific instincts in all zones, is a smooth skater and, as evidenced by the fact he captained Canada's team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, has strong leadership qualities. He'll also be part of the CHL's lineup for the first CHL USA Prospects Challenge on Nov. 26 in London and Nov. 27 in Oshawa.

Here's more:

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won a lot and endured an enormous amount of personal loss. He'll play his first game of the 2024-25 season Thursday night.

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