Schaefer was progressing well at the start of his second professional season in the AHL before his season was cut short due to injury. His goals-per-game jumped from 0.11 to 0.47, while his shot volume stayed relatively consistent, showcasing his development as an offensive threat and ability to pick his spots better. Schaefer’s physical approach to the game and high motor will give him a good foundation to build upon as he rises through the ranks, but expect him to inevitably miss time due to injury or suspension throughout his career. During an interview after the 2025 NHL Draft, Predators GM Barry Trotz mentioned Schaefer as a top prospect who could find an opportunity to play for the Predators in the 2025-26. Look for him to possibly make his NHL debut sooner rather than later, especially if the Preds run into injuries to their bottom-six forwards.

Schaefer came close to a Memorial Cup win with the Seattle Thunderbirds, but ultimately couldn’t quite make it all the way. On the stacked T-Birds team, Schaefer didn’t truly shine. The 6’4″ winger could make the jump to the NHL next season, especially considering he was one of the oldest players in the 2022 draft, but don’t expect him to be much more than a physical bottom-sixer for a very long time His game will have significant value in multi-cat leagues, however.

Schaefer has been traded to the Nashville Predators in a package deal for defenseman Mattias Ekholm. Schaefer, 19, has 23 goals and 47 points in 44 contests for the Seattle Thunderbirds this season.

Schaefer has been selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the final pick in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Schaefer can best be described as a modern-day power forward. He is willing to go to the dirty areas, score goals in-tight, and isn’t one to back down from a physical challenge. Showing promising development, he has scored at a decent rate this season after hardly producing in his first WHL campaign. Hard to miss, the 6-3, 214 pound winger plays a heavy, powerful game and is very tough to play against. Using powerful, long strides, Schaefer is able to get up to speed with the game when he gets his wheels turning, and is agile enough to stay on the forecheck and make quick stops and turns. Combine this with his energy and effort on every shift, and you can see why he is a thorn in the side of his opponents. This style of play is not fun to play against, as he is able to pressure defenders on the forecheck easily and make their jobs difficult. Schaefer is a versatile power forward, however as he plays on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Utilizing his big frame and long reach, he can disrupt powerplay breakouts and take away passing lanes on the kill. On the man advantage, his booming shot and physical presence play a big role in Seattle’s success in special teams. There isn’t a lot to dislike about his game as his style of play will translate to the next level but his skating speed could improve if he lightens his heavy feet and adds some more power to his push-offs. Schaefer could very well see himself going earlier than many expect in this year’s draft as his translatable skills and NHL-ready tendencies will have some scouts rating him very highly.