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Matthew Schaefer hasn't skated for the Erie Otters since Dec. 8.
An appearance in that month's IIHF World Junior Championships was the initial reason for his absence.
Schaefer, though, hasn't competed at all since early in that holiday tournament. The defenseman broke his collarbone during pool play for Team Canada.
Schaefer's hiatus continued through Thursday, when the Otters hosted London in their win-or-go-home Ontario Hockey League playoff game at Erie Insurance Arena.
The Knights sought a four-game sweep of Erie for the teams' Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal.
Despite Schafer's lengthy off-ice void, the NHL Central Scouting continued to rank him as North America's best skater for the league's 2025 draft.
That remained the case for the bureau's final list, which was released Tuesday. Schaefer remained a player projected to hear his name called first for the June 27-28 draft at Los Angeles.
Next month's NHL lottery for its non-Stanley Cup participants will determine who possesses the top spot.
It wouldn't be the first time Schaefer experienced such an honor. The Otters chose the Hamilton, Ontario, native with the No. 1 overall pick for the OHL's 2023 priority selection draft.
Schaefer, with 3 goals and 14 assists, helped Erie end a seven-year postseason drought as a rookie. He recorded 7 goals and 15 assists over the first 17 games of the Otters' 2024-25 regular season.
The bureau listed Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa, whose 134 regular season points were the most for any Canadian Hockey League player, as second to Schaefer.
The Otters eliminated Saginaw during the Robertson Cup's first round.
More: What difficult feat must the Erie Otters now accomplish to win their OHL playoff series
Schaefer isn't the only current Otter on the bureau's last list of North American skaters.
Malcolm Spence is ranked 17th. The Erie left winger totaled 32 goals and 73 points during the regular season.
Spence also had 3 postseason goals going into Thursday.
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters defenseman still expected to go first in 2025 NHL draft
Continue reading...
An appearance in that month's IIHF World Junior Championships was the initial reason for his absence.
Schaefer, though, hasn't competed at all since early in that holiday tournament. The defenseman broke his collarbone during pool play for Team Canada.
Schaefer's hiatus continued through Thursday, when the Otters hosted London in their win-or-go-home Ontario Hockey League playoff game at Erie Insurance Arena.
The Knights sought a four-game sweep of Erie for the teams' Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal.
Despite Schafer's lengthy off-ice void, the NHL Central Scouting continued to rank him as North America's best skater for the league's 2025 draft.
That remained the case for the bureau's final list, which was released Tuesday. Schaefer remained a player projected to hear his name called first for the June 27-28 draft at Los Angeles.
Next month's NHL lottery for its non-Stanley Cup participants will determine who possesses the top spot.
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It wouldn't be the first time Schaefer experienced such an honor. The Otters chose the Hamilton, Ontario, native with the No. 1 overall pick for the OHL's 2023 priority selection draft.
Schaefer, with 3 goals and 14 assists, helped Erie end a seven-year postseason drought as a rookie. He recorded 7 goals and 15 assists over the first 17 games of the Otters' 2024-25 regular season.
The bureau listed Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa, whose 134 regular season points were the most for any Canadian Hockey League player, as second to Schaefer.
The Otters eliminated Saginaw during the Robertson Cup's first round.
More: What difficult feat must the Erie Otters now accomplish to win their OHL playoff series
You must be registered for see images attach
Spence also cited
Schaefer isn't the only current Otter on the bureau's last list of North American skaters.
Malcolm Spence is ranked 17th. The Erie left winger totaled 32 goals and 73 points during the regular season.
Spence also had 3 postseason goals going into Thursday.
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters defenseman still expected to go first in 2025 NHL draft
Continue reading...
