Matthew Schaefer

January – Schaefer’s had some rotten luck this season. First battling mononucleosis, now looking at three months out of commission after breaking his collarbone at the World Juniors, it’s been hard for Schaefer to stay on the ice. Nevertheless, when Schaefer’s been healthy, he’s made a strong case to be the first name called at the draft. Over a point-per-game in the OHL (and a goal and an assist in his abbreviated two-game WJC appearance), Schaefer has done a lot to alleviate the concerns about his offensive ceiling he entered the season with. His high-end skating, efficient puck-management, and solid defence have always stood out, but some increased creativity and confidence has been fun to watch. There’s some mystery surrounding Schaefer’s projection once he returns, but as such a young prospect, he’s still got plenty of runway to push for first-overall.  Luke Sweeney