Defenceman Matthew Schaefer #48 of Team CHL during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at Canada Life Place on November 26, 2024 in London, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With the NHL Draft less than four weeks away, the biggest overlying question surrounding the league’s newest franchise is very simple. Who will the Utah Mammoth pick at 4? Stepping into combine week, let’s take a look at potential prospects, beginning with defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Schaefer is a 17-year-old defenseman from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Selected first overall by the Erie Otters in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League Draft, Schaefer has transformed into a top 2025 NHL prospect with his well-balanced and dominant performances on both sides of the puck.
Despite missing the majority of this last junior season due to illness and a broken collarbone, the majority of Schaefer’s success has come at the junior international level as he led Team Canada to gold at the U18 World Championships and Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Notably, Schaefer was also named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team in 2024.
Appearing on most mock drafts as the No. 1 overall selection, Schaefer boasts arguably the most complete 200-foot game in the 2025 NHL draft.
Beginning with his defensive skillset, Schaefer is sound in his own zone as he battles in the dirty areas, covers every inch of the ice, hustles, blocks shots and demonstrates a high level of awareness.
Given his abilities, Schaefer is often entrusted as a reliable penalty-killer.
As for his offensive skillset, Schaefer is undeniably explosive as he bursts from his own blue line across center ice and dangerously enters the offensive zone.
With some comparisons to Colorado’s Cale Makar in the way he’s able to kickstart the offense, Schaefer often pinches at the right time, accelerates up the ice, draws the attention of multiple defenders and then sets up his teammates for premier scoring opportunities.
Additionally, the young prospect can also light the lamp with ease, smoothly weave through traffic and effectively run the power play.
Matthew Schaefer 🇨🇦 (#48 | DY | Three Games) #2025NHLDraft
Talent Analysis: A defender that can do everything. His skating is fantastic, allowing him to make an impact over the entire ice surface. His retrievals are good, showing deception, patience, vision, and the ability to… pic.twitter.com/5Z9qNerY0F
— AMScouting (@AMScouting) February 23, 2025
Overall, Schaefer’s skating is easily his greatest asset as he’s able to dominate all areas of the ice, utilize his speed to cover both zones and lift the offense more than the average defenseman.
Two of Schaefer’s most notable criticisms are his overall strength and a need to continue improving defensively.
Now, as a 17-year-old, strength and muscle will undoubtedly come with time as he matures.
In terms of his defensive game, there’s not necessarily an area of worry, just that he needs to better himself overall.
“I don’t think he’s a bona fide No. 1, [more] a super-good No. 2. Not a ton of holes in his game,” an NHL scout told NBC Sports Bay Area.
“He is smart. He has skill for a defenseman, for sure. There is a competitiveness to him…He’ll be a good two-way defenseman, [but] he’s not gonna have a big game on either side of the puck. He’s just gonna be safe.”
As previously mentioned, Schaefer is expected to go No. 1 overall on most mock drafts.
At worst, No. 2 overall.
However, there is some concern about Schaefer’s injury and the fact that he only played in 17 games this past season.
Simply put, it would take a lot of confidence to take a guy No. 1 who missed most of the year with a collarbone injury.
Does that mean he’ll fall below two? That remains to be seen but there is a chance his stock could drop and if he’s available at four, Utah would have to make him a Mammoth as the best player on the board.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
