Projected first overall pick Matthew Schaefer taunts Brad Marchand!

Expected to be selected first overall in the upcoming National Hockey League Draft, Matthew Schaefer attended Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise on Monday. With star players from both the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers around, the promising defenseman didn’t miss a golden opportunity to tease Brad Marchand, with whom he had breakfast Monday morning.

“I took a picture with him, and he was on tiptoe,” Schaefer told Félix Séguin on TVA Sports. “I said, ‘Wait, Brad,’ and then I bent down to be at his level.” He was like, ‘Really? Which collarbone did you hurt again?’”

Everyone around the league loves to hate Marchand and this taunt by Schaefer will probably make a lot of people smile.

The interview took a more serious turn when the discussion turned to the significant tragedy the young man faced when both his billet mother and biological mother in the span of three months. Schaefer however believes he can set a positive example for others, which shows resilience and maturity. A great sign that Schaefer will be able to handle those types of pressures with grace and humility, then he can tackle anything the NHL has to offer.

Schaefer was limited to 17 games in his draft year due to some bad injury luck, including missing opening nine games of the season because of mononucleosis and the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken clavicle while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The 17-year-old still managed seven goals and 15 assists 22 points in the small sample size.

Can’t wait to see if he goes first in two weeks at the upcoming draft.