Matthew Schaefer Inks Exclusive Deal with Upper Deck

Running headfirst into the heart of hockey fandom, Upper Deck has announced a touchdown—or should that be a goal?—by securing the exclusive rights to top NHL prospect Matthew Schaefer. As the anticipation bubble inflates ever closer to the 2025 NHL Draft, this deal has collectors and fans alike clearing out binder space with giggly anticipation.

At just 17 years of age, Matthew Schaefer is the young meteor crashing onto the hockey scene, and Upper Deck has swiftly put a lasso around this comet. This multi-year agreement promises to keep all things Schaefer firmly in the trading card titan's galaxy. Upper Deck’s monopoly over Schaefer memorabilia means that if you’re hoping to lay your hands on a rookie card graced by this soon-to-be star, or perhaps a personally autographed puck, you’ll want to knock on Upper Deck’s door.

The hockey prodigy is sharpening his skates, poised to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. Yet, there's a twinkle of nostalgia as young Matthew reminisces about simpler times with his family, crafting little collections out of trading cards that he could hardly envision being on someday.

“It’s pretty special,” Schaefer remarked with a grin that could outshine a championship trophy. “I spent a lot of my childhood trading cards with my family, never imagining I’d eventually appear on one.”

Jason Masherah, the president of Upper Deck, echoes this enthusiasm. "Matthew Schaefer is undeniably one of the most promising young talents in hockey today," he announced, likely with his fingers uncrossed from any residual superstition. The Young Guns template is probably not just a set of words but an expectation, already lined up and ready.

Matthew's recent journey in the rink has been nothing short of exhilarating. Standing tall with the Erie Otters, he racked up an impressive 22 points over a mere 17 games this season. His resilience shone all the brighter as these accomplishments came despite a gamut of injuries. First overall pick in the 2023 OHL Draft? Check. Decoration-laden international exploits with Team Canada? Check, and check again, complete with a couple of shimmering gold medals for flair. Quite the résumé for someone who couldn’t legally drive himself to a rink until recently.

Now, with an Upper Deck umbrella to shield him from the rain of commercial chaos, Matthew’s presence in the card world is set to become a fixture. Enthusiasts won’t have to wait too long to interact with Schaefer’s memorabilia either. By the month’s end, expect a rollout of signed pucks, jerseys, and prints making their way to Upper Deck’s virtual store shelves, faster than a Wayne Gretzky slapshot.

As for the pièce de résistance—his official trading cards? Those will make their flashy debut only once Schaefer hits the big leagues of the NHL. Time to make some real estate decisions in that trading card binder.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars with a sharpie in the brightest hue of your choice. The 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 27-28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Schaefer is poised on the cusp of realizing childhood dreams at warp speed, with Upper Deck ensuring his stride into the spotlight is mirrored by starry pieces of cardboard.

Upper Deck’s swoop to secure Schaefer is more than a mere business maneuver—it’s a nod to the future of hockey, a glimpse into the potential legend that Schaefer might become. Hockey's ever-evolving narrative just got a new chapter, and it’s bound to be accompanied by collectors trading stories as eagerly as they do cards. As his career unfolds, the tales will multiply, each wrapped up in a neat card sleeve, or adorning memorabilia, shared and cherished by fans lucky enough to catch a piece of the Schaefer magic. And thus, the trading card legend of Matthew Schaefer begins its glittering ascent.