The NHL Central Scouting Bureau projected Matthew Schaefer as the No. 1 overall pick for its 2025 entry draft.
The San Jose Sharks, whose 20-50-12 regular-season record was the league’s worst, claimed the best odds of picking the Erie Otters defenseman before May 5.
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Now, though, Schaefer could be bound for an Atlantic coast franchise rather than the Pacific.
The New York Islanders won the league’s 11-team lottery despite a 4% chance that would happen. San Jose, despite odds of 26%, wound up second.
Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer skates during a Nov. 22, 2024, Ontario Hockey League game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at Erie Insurance Arena. Schaefer, despite a broken collarbone that’s idled him since late December, is still projected to be the No. 1 overall pick for June’s NHL entry draft. The New York Islanders, thanks to the league’s draft lottery, received that pick May 5.
The league’s two-day draft begins June 27 at Los Angeles. When it does, the Islanders will possess the league’s first pick for first time since 2009 and the fifth time overall.
If they select Schaefer, he’d join a list that includes the franchise’s most celebrated defenseman.
Denis Potvin skated for each of the Islanders’ four straight Stanley Cup championship teams (1980-83). He joined the Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of its 1991 class.
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Schaefer is still expected back with Erie next season regardless of June’s draft results. The No. 1 overall pick for the Ontario Hockey League’s 2023 priority selection draft also could be a first overall NHL pick even though he hasn’t played since last December.
Schaefer broke a collarbone while he represented Team Canada during the IIHF World Junior Championship. He never returned for the remainder of the Otters’ 2024-25 season, which concluded when the London Knights swept them in the Robertson Cup’s Western Conference semifinals.
More: Erie Otters’ Matthew Schaefer still projected as first pick for June’s NHL draft
Other notables
The two NHL teams in Erie’s region also were involved in the May 5 lottery. The Buffalo Sabres will pick ninth and the Pittsburgh Penguins 11th.
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Buffalo’s odds at winning the lottery were 7% and the Penguins 5%.
More: Why the Erie Otters’ 2024-25 OHL season was unlike any other in franchise history
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Otters’ Matthew Schaefer learns who could take him in NHL draft