No. 1 Draft Prospect Matthew Schaefer Chats At Combine

The 17-year-old defenseman could go No. 1 to the New York Islanders.

Stefen Rosner

The Elmonters

, and

David Kolb

Jun 06, 2025

During the 2024–25 season with the Erie Otter, Schaefer recorded 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 17 games. He then joined Team Canada for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship but sustained a broken clavicle during the tournament, sidelining him for approximately three months.

Recognized for his elite skating, hockey IQ, and leadership qualities, Schaefer is considered a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. Despite his injury, he remains a highly regarded defenseman with significant upside.

BUFFALO, NY — Ahead of the 2025 Draft Combine workouts, we had the chance to speak with the prospect and the New York Islanders' potential No. 1 overall pick, Matthew Schaefer.

Q: What’s this week been like for you?

A: “I love talking. I love these interviews. It's good to meet new people. It's good to be with your friends again. Some guys I played Hockey Canada with growing up. So, it’s super cool to see everyone at this stage. You got testing and interviews, so it's a very fun time. It goes by super fast. It feels like yesterday I was just getting here. So you just got to enjoy this time. It goes by super fast.”

Q: Is there anything specifically you can say about your meeting with the Islanders?

A: “Every interview, you just got to be yourself. I mean, every team sees you on the ice. You got to be yourself off the ice. You don't want to change the person you are. Obviously, on the ice, they don't really get to see your personality and leadership. So just be yourself. Every team has been super cool. It's been great to know the Islanders staff and every other team. It’s been a great week.”

Q: You are skating with Adam Pelech this summer. What went into that decision?

A: “I just started working out at a new gym. Brian Marshall is my trainer, and then Mark Giordano is actually going to be my D coach. And then, Pelech is (at that gym). It’s going to be cool. A lot of NHL guys, the biggest thing is working out in the summer, putting muscle on with an NHL group that’s gonna push you. It’s very competitive. Just a great group of guys that have your back and want the best for you. So, yeah, it’s gonna be a big summer, and I can’t wait.”

Q: Talk to us about Mark Giordano.

A: “He's a great person. He really cares. He wants me to do the best, and he's always right behind me if I need anything. My ears are wide open for him, so he's just going to be telling me stuff I need to know. I said, Gio, whatever you think I need to do better, tell me because I want to learn from you. Because he started from the bottom, didn't get drafted to the OHL, not the NHL either. So he really knows what it takes to be at that next level, the work ethic, just everything. He's been amazing, and I can't wait to work with him more this summer.”

Q: Do you think you’re NHL ready?

A: “I do. Obviously, this summer is gonna be very big for me. My goal is to play in the NHL, and I'll go from there. Obviously, take it day by day. I'm at the Combine right now, enjoying this week. Don't get too far ahead of yourself. So just take it day by day.”

Q: “What were your thoughts when you saw the balls come up the Islanders’ way, with not much of a chance?

A: “There's a lot of great teams in the NHL. With the Islanders, I have a lot of great things to say about them. So, yeah, obviously, I'd love to be an Islander. I'd love to go first overall. But yeah, now, it's really in their hands, and it's what a team wants. So, yeah, I just got to focus on the rest of the combine, my testing tomorrow, like I said, take it day by day. And when the draft day comes, I'll be super excited.”

Q: What is it about your game you think can translate fairly immediately to the NHL?

A: “I want to be an all-around defenseman that could play in all three zones. "I think my hockey IQ, skating ability, and I'm very competitive. I love winning, but I hate losing. Even if I'm playing with my buddies at home, I need to win. So, I’m very competitive in that sense. But yeah, I mean, when you're at the next level, you're playing with NHL guys that are all in the right spot, so they make your job a little bit easier. But yeah, I think my skating ability and hockey IQ will be really good. I am able to find guys. I gotta trust my skating to get out of trouble. But yeah, I think there's a lot of things that can translate to the next level. And, like I said, I'll be learning a lot from Mark Giordano. So, I’m excited for that.”

Q: Do you have an NHL comparable in mind?

A: “There's a lot of players all watching. Of course, Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen, two great guys with great hockey sense and great skating ability. And I love watching Brandon Tanev. He blocks shots on the PK. I want to be that guy that can go on the PK, block shots, kill penalties. I want to be that guy that can go on the PP and get some points for the guys. But, as I said, I just want to be an all-around player at the end of the day. And do whatever the coach needs me to do to win."

Q: Have you played PP and PK with Erie?

A: “I've played PK & PP. They're both great things. I think scoring a goal on the PP is just as good as blocking a big shot on the PK. My brother is nine and a half years older than me. He played in the OHL for the Niagara Ice Hogs. He was a big PK specialist, so he's taught me a lot. So I remember in the top prospects game, I had a glove and a stick off, and I blocked a shot on the PK. So he was pretty fired up about that. I gave him a little shout-out there. I think I got it from him.”

Q: You got hurt at the World Juniors. Are you completely cleared?

A: “I'm fully cleared as of May 1. So fully healthy, fully cleared. I won't be doing bench press and pull-ups just because I've been doing much of that. So the doctor said, stay away from that. But yeah, fully healthy. Obviously, you can't control what adversity you face. I faced a lot in my life, with losing my mom and my billet mom. So, there's a lot of adversity you face in life you really can't control. You just gotta be very strong mentally. But the opportunities you take, you got to work as hard as you can with them. And just be just be happy. Of course, you never know what people are going through. But I'm very competitive. Like I said, I love winning, so every time I step on the ice, I want to do something with the opportunity.”

Q: When did your mom pass, and how were you able to come through that?

A: “She passed when I was 16. It's never going to get easier. I think that's pretty well said right there. Mom's a big part of my family. I love her to death. When I'm sick, she's the first person I'm calling to come lay with me. So yeah, it's definitely a tough loss to the family, but I'm happy she's not suffering. I mean, seeing her go through something as scary as that, you never want to see a loved one go through that. And I'm happy she's not suffering. She’s happy. She has a front-row seat to every hockey game I play, so that's good, right there. I know she's smiling and loves watching. She’s probably banging on the glass, getting me going. No, I'm joking. She's not one of those. She's more just sit back and watch. When I come out, she’ll tell me I played a good game no matter what. Stories from when we were younger: she'd go in the net, and I'd shoot on her. I'd be on rollerblades in hockey equipment. Me, my brother would run 1v1 and then my mom would be in the net in goalie equipment. So yeah, she's taught me a lot. We play mini sticks against her. So yeah, I care about her so much. I'm happy she's not suffering. I know she's with me in spirit all the time. And, you know, throughout everything I go through, I know the ups and downs. I have her strength because she was a really strong woman, probably one of the strongest people, if not the strongest person, I know. Her strength, compared to my dad and my brother, is not as strong. So no, tough lady, very strong, but I love her to death, and I’m happy she's not suffering. I think the biggest thing for me is the 16 years I got to spend with her is probably the best 16 years.”

Q: How much of a role has your brother played?

A: “He toughened me up as a kid. He hit me into the garage. We'd put on full equipment. I put on full equipment, and he dumped the ball into the garage, and I'd be going in, going to get it, and he'd come and blow me up. So I'd go in crying, he'd get in trouble. So in that sense, it was pretty funny to watch. I remember crying and then laughing as he got in trouble. So no, I mean, my family's super close. We've always, always been super close. And you know, to go through what we've been through, we're still super close.”