NHL top draft prospect, Erie defenseman Schaefer remains upbeat while dealing with death and injury
FILE - Canada's Matthew Schaefer (25) leaves the ice after colliding with the net during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action against Latvia in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Canada's Matthew Schaefer, right, battles for the puck with Switzerland's Basile Sansonnens, second right, and Eric Schneller (26) during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pre-tournament game in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 19, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Canada's Matthew Schaefer, right, battles for the puck with Switzerland's Basile Sansonnens, second right, and Eric Schneller (26) during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pre-tournament game in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 19, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, right, and forward Michael Misa, NHL Central Scouting's top-two North American draft prospects, share the podium to address reporters at the league's annual combine being held at Buffalo's downtown Harborcenter facility, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/John Wawrow)
FILE - Canada's Matthew Schaefer (25) leaves the ice after colliding with the net during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action against Latvia in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
FILE - Canada's Matthew Schaefer, right, battles for the puck with Switzerland's Basile Sansonnens, second right, and Eric Schneller (26) during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pre-tournament game in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 19, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Matthew Schaefer's collarbone is fine, and so is the Erie Otter defenseman's perspective on dealing with adversity.
Missing the final three months of the season entering his draft eligible year, the 17-year-old said, is nothing compared to what NHL Central Scouting's top-ranked North American skater has already endured.
Advertisement
Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer in February 2024. Two months earlier, his billet mother in Erie was struck and killed by a train, with her death ruled a suicide.
'I've been through a lot in my life and I'd rather an injury than losing someone I love,' Schaefer said Friday at the NHL's annual pre-draft combine in Buffalo. "I mean, there's a lot worse things that can happen than injuries.
As for recovering from the collarbone he broke in December, Schaefer said: 'I'm pretty positive with my mindset and I'm driven to want to come back. So yeah, obviously injuries, they're not fun. But I'm driven to get better and come back even stronger.'
Schaefer was cleared to resume skating May 1 and plans to take part in all of the combine's strength and agility tests with the exception of the bench press and pullups.
Advertisement
Upbeat and talkative, he showed no hint of the pain he's dealt with by engaging reporters in opening the press conference by saying: 'What's going on today? Everybody good?'
Schaefer then proceeded to playfully joke and also compliment Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, with whom he shared the podium and is the No. 2-ranked North American skater.
'Not able to play as much, I got to watch a little more and got to know him. Great guy on and off ice,' Schaefer said, before saying he'd be happy if Misa was selected ahead of him.
Schaefer then displayed humility by acknowledging being surprised to maintain the No. 1 ranking despite having his season cut short after being hurt representing Canada at the world junior championships.
Advertisement
'I played only 17 games and, you know, why are you at the top of that list?' he said. 'I played in those 17 games, I took it as opportunities and I worked as hard as I could and left it all out there.'
NHL Central Scouting chief Dan Marr told The Associated Press the debate in ranking Schaefer over Misa was close, and wouldn't be surprised if Misa or perhaps, Boston College center James Hagens, goes No. 1 in the draft in Los Angles on June 27.
Hagens is from Long Island and the top-ranked American-born skater. The top-ranked European skaters are Sweden junior teammates, center Anton Frondell and right wing Victor Eklund, who's brother William plays for San Jose.
The New York Islanders have the first pick, followed by San Jose and Chicago.
Advertisement
What separated Schaefer from the rest in the rankings, Marr said, was what he showed in his 17 games with Erie, and his performance at the Canada's Under-18 summer camp.
From Hamilton, Ontario, Schaefer displayed his offensive abilities in scoring seven goals and 22 points with Erie last season. That's what scouts were looking for following his rookie season in which Schaefer had three goals and 17 points in 56 games.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, Schaefer is a two-way defenseman with strong skating and play-making ability.
Misa, is from Oakville, Ontario, and enjoyed a breakout third season in Saginaw while making the switch from wing to center.
Advertisement
Granted exceptional status to play at 15 in 2022, he led all Canadian Hockey League players this season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) — the most by an OHL player 17 or younger since John Tavares in 2006-07. Tavares, now with Toronto, went No. 1 pick 2009 draft to the Islanders.
Schaefer enjoyed the interview process over the past week, and said he had dinner with both the Islanders and Sharks.
'I'm a talker. I love all these interviews and stuff, it keeps me busy,' Schaefer said.
He then jokingly frowned when informed Misa had four dinners.
Misa holds Schaefer in high regard, and also acknowledged he'd be fine if the defenseman was selected ahead of him.
Advertisement
'You know what you're getting from him every night. He's all over the ice,' Misa said. 'When he does make that jump to the NHL, he is going to have no problem fitting in.'
Smiling, Schaefer turned to Misa and said: 'Thanks, bro.'
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
18 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Dexter Lawrence set out to quiet the chatter minutes after the first practice of New York Giants training camp. The veteran defensive tackle had already challenged his fellow players not to listen to the outside noise. 'They want to talk about our D-line and all this,' Lawrence said, 'but we haven't done anything yet.' Linebacker Brian Burns shared the same thought process a few days later, with a little more profanity tossed in, acknowledging what the formidable front looks like on paper. And while adding No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter to a group already featuring Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux has the potential to make this an elite pass rush, those involved are quick to insist they need to prove it first. "Everything looks good with the names that we have and the potential and this and that," Burns said. 'It's all on us. We can take this as far as we want to go.' Teammate Darius Muasau called it 'the best D-line in the NFL right now," which is lofty praise that can get tossed out there in the dog days of summer with camps in full swing and before any meaningful games are played. Even the exhibition season might not be an indication of what the unit can do. That will get tested in September with the gauntlet of opening at NFC East rivals Washington and Dallas and at home against defending AFC champion Kansas City, followed by then Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Brian Daboll, among many others, is looking forward to seeing how Lawrence, free agent signing Roy Robertson-Harris, Thibodeaux, Burns and Carter handle hefty expectations. 'Hype doesn't get you anywhere,' Daboll said this week. 'Action does. So, whatever people think or they say, good or bad, the only thing that really matters is how we go about our business and ultimately producing when it matters.' Even tying for the worst record in the league last season at 3-14 — the 30th-ranked offense shouldered a bigger slice of that blame — only seven teams had more sacks than the Giants' 45. Lawrence set a career high with nine, Burns was next with 8 1/2 and Thibodeaux figures he should have had more than 5 1/2 with so many half-sacks part of his total. 'Probably would've been, you guys can do the math, maybe seven or eight if I were to finish those,' Thibodeaux said. 'Just making sure that I get everything I deserve this year.' Burns noticed a positive change in Thibodeaux at some point last season, which has continued into camp. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Wednesday he routinely shows clips of the 2022 No. 5 pick running to the ball as an example to other players. 'K.T. has impressed me about how he handles himself in the building,' Burns said. 'He gets in early (and) he does his thing. All in all, he flipped that switch last year, so I expect big things from K.T." The organization — and bettors — expect big things from Carter, too. He's a heavy favorite at less than 3-1 on BetMGM Sportsbook to be AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after 12 sacks in 16 games in his final college season at Penn State, during which he also led the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles for loss. 'He's going to be put in positions to succeed, and that's just due to the guys we have on the line,' Burns said. 'Me, Dex, K.T., he's going to have 1 on 1s. He's going to have opportunities to show what he can do.' Bowen, going into his second season running New York's defense, is putting the onus on himself and his staff to find ways to get impact players on the field in the correct situations. That might mean Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter all lining up on an obvious passing down to show what they all can do. 'We've got to make sure we do a good job of finding ways to utilize them,' Bowen said. 'To have three guys that can roll and play and do different things for us, it really opens up the creativity for us." Nabers says he's 'fine' After not participating in all of team drills at practice Wednesday, top receiver Malik Nabers said he was fine and called it part of the plan devised by coaches and trainers. Asked if it was about managing his lingering toe injury, the second-year pro said it was about everything. It's unclear how much, if any, Nabers will play in the preseason opener Saturday at Buffalo. Hudson leaves With standout left tackle Andrew Thomas still on the physically unable to perform list and rehabbing to return from surgery in October for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, James Hudson has been filling in that spot with the first-team offense. That is, until midway through practice Wednesday. Hudson left the field with training staff and did not return. Rookie Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick out of Purdue, took over in Hudson's absence. ___
San Francisco Chronicle
18 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Travis Kelce's transformation: Chiefs star trims down, gears up for another Super Bowl run
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — It's easy to see Travis Kelce making plays on the practice fields of Missouri Western State University these days, whether they be those highlight-reel catches, deft maneuvers in the open field or, yes, the occasional pancake block on a running play. The thing is that there is less of the Chiefs tight end to see. Kelce won't exactly cop to it — leave that to Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who called him 'svelte' — but the four-time All-Pro trimmed down considerably since the end of last season, when he was last seen walking dejectedly off the turf at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Chiefs having been dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. The sting of the loss probably had a lot to do with his offseason work. You see, some questioned whether the 40-22 defeat might drive the nearly 36-year-old Kelce into retirement, especially given the number of off-the-field pursuits vying for his time. There's the TV shows and films, including the new 'Happy Gilmore' flick, along with his popular podcast and his celebrity girlfriend, the pop superstar Taylor Swift. Yet instead of calling it quits, Kelce seemed to redouble his efforts. He used the 'New Heights' podcast with his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce, to quickly make it clear that he wasn't going anywhere. Then, apparently, he locked himself in the gym and went to work, trimming down to the kind of shape Kelce was in earlier in his career. 'He's svelte right now. He looks like he's 20,' Reid opined. 'He's doing a nice job. He's worked hard to get to this spot here.' And avoid the spot he found himself in last year. By almost any measure, the season Kelce had would have been deemed a success. He appeared in 16 regular-season games, caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three scores, and stepped back into a go-to role for the offense when the Chiefs lost wide receivers Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries for nearly the entire season. Yet the measure Kelce uses has never been the same used by others. For one thing, the only thing that really matters to him is the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs came up short last season. For another, Kelce is accustomed to 1,000-yard seasons and double-digit touchdown passes, the kinds of numbers that have made him an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer. 'You know,' Kelce said Wednesday, after training camp was moved indoors as a storm swept through, 'football is the biggest driving forced I've ever had. I love coming out here and focusing on this and trying to get better for another run.' Kelce has always called Missouri Western his 'sanctuary,' where he can get away from distractions and focus on football. That hasn't changed as he prepares to enter his 13th season. 'You get out here to St. Joe,' Kelce said, "and you're going to training camp, man, it just really signifies like, coming together. The chemistry, the culture that you need to have to keep getting better every single day, every single week throughout the year. 'I think you can really just focus in on your craft,' he said, 'and being the best. You care for the guys around you.' That's evident in the way that Kelce has taken younger players under his guidance. Not just other tight ends, either, but anybody trying to get an edge, whether it be rookie left tackle Josh Simmons or first-year cornerback Nohl Williams. 'Every year he just gets wiser and wiser,' fellow Chiefs tight end Noah Gray said. "Watching him and his practice habits and the way he works always rubs off on us. When you've a leader like that, that continues to lead the room, continues to lead the team, it rubs off on everybody else and it makes a huge difference.' Kelce balked when he was asked about his fondest training camp memory, given that this could well be his last — 'Ask me that when I retire,' he quipped. But there is nevertheless a distinct feeling that Kelce poured himself into his offseason, getting in the best shape he possibly could, so that he would have no regrets as Kansas City pursed another Super Bowl title. 'I mean, we got a long way to go. It's still, I think, close to a month until our first real game,' Kelce said. 'We got some time to work on our techniques and test it out on some other teams in preseason. But right now, it's just the work phase, man. I'm not really trying to evaluate anything. We're just all trying to get right, get into football shape, and get mentally tough.' ___
New York Post
18 minutes ago
- New York Post
Major Matthew Stafford injury development revealed as Rams QB's Week 1 status comes into focus
The injury holding Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford out has been revealed. The 37-year-old is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back and has received an epidural to help with the issue, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Rams reportedly believe that Stafford will be ready to go when Week 1 of the 2025 season rolls around in a month, with Los Angeles hosting the Texans. Advertisement 3 Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford. AP But how ready will he be is the real question. Stafford has not yet practiced with his offense during training camp as he has been sidelined with his injury. Advertisement Even if Stafford is healthy enough to play at home against the Texans on Sept. 7, Stafford might not be totally in sync, especially in a new-look offense that lost Cooper Kupp and added Davante Adams. Jimmy Garoppolo is Stafford's backup. 3 Matthew Stafford playing against the Jets in 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST The Rams could be reaching the end of their window to compete for another Super Bowl after Stafford led them to the Lombardi Trophy in 2022. Advertisement They came close to ousting the Eagles in snowy Philadelphia in the divisional round last season but fell short to the eventual Super Bowl champs. 3 Jimmy Garoppolo at training camp. AP There was some questions regarding whether Stafford would return to the Rams as he sought a new deal, and there was a brief flirtation with the Giants, but the two sides struck a deal that will pay him $44 million this season, and another $40 million if he's on the roster next season. Stafford had a solid year in 2024, throwing for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Advertisement Adams arrives after his reunion with Aaron Rodgers on the Jets failed, while Kupp left to sign with the Seahawks.
