Trading card aficionados and hockey fans have just received a reason to vigorously rub their hands in anticipation, for fifteen minutes with a hot cup of whatever they fancy will not suffice to contain their thrill. Upper Deck, the trading card juggernaut that continues to hold the title as the Picasso of sports memorabilia, has entered into an exclusive multi-year agreement with NHL wunderkind Matthew Schaefer. This contract is nothing short of a golden ticket for enthusiasts eager to lay their hands on the first official Schaefer merchandise, and it lands perfectly just ahead of the explosive unpredictability of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Let’s be real for a moment. If you had plans to effortlessly acquire the latest Matthew Schaefer rookie card at your local flea market, curb your enthusiasm. Upper Deck’s deal effectively makes them the sole gatekeepers of Schaefer’s memorabilia — in short, they’ve got the monopoly, and they’re running it like a well-oiled Zamboni.
Who exactly is this teenager who’s not yet allowed to rent a car but is about to hold sway over the trading card market? A mere 17-year-old, Schaefer has already got Canada’s hockey world abuzz, with the wind of his on-ice performance leaves many with shivers. With top-laden attributes like an immovable resolve and standout flair for defense, he’s anticipated to be whisked away as the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Simply put, what was once a kid huddled over packs of cards in awe is now the spectacle inside those packs. For Schaefer, it’s a moment to savor. “It’s pretty special,” he remarked, no doubt flickers of childhood nostalgia lighting up his eyes.
Upper Deck may well declare this signing as akin to scoring a game clincher in overtime. The company’s president, Jason Masherah, could hardly contain his enthusiasm, declaring Schaefer “one of the most promising young talents in hockey today.” At this point, we can suppose that Upper Deck’s designers have the Young Guns card designs ready, file named as a national treasure.
Standing 6 feet and weighing in with an impressive stat sheet, Schaefer currently stars for the Erie Otters. Yet, it’s not just the local stats drawing attention: his 22 points amassed in just 17 games would impress even the staunchest of critics. And this, despite dealing with some annoyantly persistent injuries. As the first overall pick in the 2023 OHL Draft, the anticipation surrounding Schaefer’s future is only growing.
Internationally, this talented young blueliner has more than pulled his weight. Boasting a couple of shiny gold medals from the U17 World Challenge and the U18 Worlds for Team Canada, Schaefer is crafting an image not just of a talent on the rise but an established presence in junior hockey’s grandest echelons.
For collectors, the wait to get their hands on Schaefer memorabilia will be brief. You can almost see gear enthusiasts huddling by their keyboards right now, eagerly awaiting the day that signed pucks, jerseys, and glossy prints will finally find their home in the Upper Deck online store, which should be by the end of this very month. As for the treasure trove of trading cards? Those, like a set of wine, will age just a smidge longer, emerging only after Schaefer sets his blades on NHL ice.
Keep a close eye on your calendars for June 27–28. That’s when the 2025 NHL Draft will descend upon L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, signaling the dawn of a new chapter for this burgeoning superstar. Enveloped by the gleeful aura of what Upper Deck has managed to secure, Matthew Schaefer is prepared to meet the glaring lights of the draft’s stage — and in parallel fashion, his many cardboard replicas are set to remind everyone why that stage was meant for him.
The rink, the draft, and even the cardboard his visage graces; the world just got a little more Schaefer-centric, and truth be told, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
