The Edmonton Oilers have signed first round draft pick Reid Schaefer to a contract. It’s a three-year, entry-level contract for the 32nd pick of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Oilers have signed first-round pick Reid Schaefer to a three-year, entry-level contract. https://t.co/5d60FjcB3L
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 16, 2022
Reid Schaefer Signs Contract
The 18-year-old Spruce Grove, Alberta native netted 32 goals and 58 points last season. He was one of the top scorers for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds in first full season with the club. Schaefer had split time the prior two seasons with the WHL and the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints.
The forward is 6-foot, 3-inches tall and 214 pounds, which is pretty good size for a younger player. Schaefer is a forward that can do good things on both the offensive and defensive end of the ice. He’s also been known to throw his body around. The left wing also logged 111 penalty minutes for the Thunderbirds last season.
His contract will run until the 2o24-25 season and will have a cap hit of $950,000. He’ll likely spend time back in juniors with Seattle next season. Schaefer did participate in the Oilers most recent development camp.
What it Means
The young forward still needs time to develop, but has good size. He’s the type of power forward the Oilers will love once he’s ready for the show.
Our own Ben Kerr said this about Schaefer in his scouting report. He was a key cog in Seattle reaching the WHL Championship before losing to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Schaefer improved his skating this season. If he can continue to do that and improve his playmaking, Schaefer could be a top-six winger in the NHL. If the offence doesn’t translate, Schaefer still has the size and skating ability to develop into a bottom-six player in the NHL. His game is reminiscent of Josh Anderson. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on skill and ability.
