Step aside ordinary trading cards—Upper Deck is about to spice up your collection in a major way. The venerable company has just inked an exclusive multi-year deal with hockey’s next big thing, Matthew Schaefer. Yes, the buzz around this kid is louder than a packed hockey arena on game night.
Matthew Schaefer is not your average teenage hockey player. At 17, he’s already a household name in the making, predicted to be the number one pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. For those of you clutching your card collections, know this: Upper Deck now has exclusive rights to all things Schaefer. So, if you’re dreaming of a rookie card or a signed jersey to hang on your wall, Upper Deck is your go-to—and they’ve got a monopoly over it.
For Schaefer, this deal with Upper Deck has turned into a nostalgic full-circle moment. The Erie Otters phenom recalls his formative years peeling open packs of cards with his family, never expecting that his face would grace the same glossy finishes he once admired. It’s the kind of story that gives you a soft spot for the guy—not bad for someone who still needs his mom or dad to co-sign a rental car agreement.
Upper Deck’s president, Jason Masherah, seems equally thrilled to welcome Schaefer into their elite circle of card-worthy athletes. In fact, you can almost picture him hurriedly whisking Schaefer’s rookie card design to the final stages of production. “Matthew Schaefer is undeniably one of the most promising young talents in hockey today,” he proclaims, as the printing presses might as well already be running in anticipation.
Schaefer’s stats don’t lie. This isn’t just some marketing hype. The defenseman tallied an impressive 22 points in just 17 games with the Erie Otters this season, and that’s including time spent nursing injuries. Plus, Schaefer packs some serious international credentials with gold medal triumphs for Team Canada at both the U17 World Challenge and the U18 Worlds. Ho-hum, just another chapter in his yet-to-be-written autobiography entitled “Putting the Pros in Prospect.”
For collectors, the harvest isn’t far off. Schaefer’s signed pucks, jerseys, and all manner of memorabilia are anticipated to hit Upper Deck’s digital shelves by the end of the month. The true holy grail, his first official NHL trading cards, will make their debut post-draft, prompting preemptive space-clearing in collectors’ meticulously organized binders.
Speaking of the draft, mark your calendars for June 27–28, when Schaefer will officially know what it feels like to have paparazzi flashbulbs mimicking the glare of stadium lights at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater. He’s got his game face on for this, even if this time the game is on the stage, not the ice.
For a teenager heading into what might be the most pivotal time of his career, Matthew Schaefer shows remarkable poise. He is clearly ready for whatever the NHL, fans, and businesses like Upper Deck throw at him. And as he makes his big dive into professional hockey, it’s safe to say his cardboard alter egos will be just as in demand. After all, trading cards are timeless, just like the talented players they feature.
As we gear up for a summer of hockey excitement, both on the draft floor and in the realm of collectibles, keep your eyes peeled for Schaefer’s name. As he steps into the limelight, both as a prospective NHL star and a trading card titan, there’s no doubt he’ll be defying trends, setting records, and, hopefully, continuing to have fun with every step he takes on the ice—or every flip of a newly minted trading card.