In the grand tradition of athletes becoming more than just players but bona fide brands, 17-year-old hockey sensation Matthew Schaefer is about to become a household name, at least on trading cards. With the snap of a pen, Schaefer has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Upper Deck, the trading card industry giant renowned for capturing the legacies of sports legends in glossy cardboard form.
To say this is merely a contractual obligation would be missing the bigger picture—or, should we say, the bigger posters and nicely framed autographs soon to be lining the walls of fan caves worldwide. As 2025’s NHL Draft approaches, where Schaefer is anticipated to be the first overall pick, fans are eagerly awaiting their chance to own a piece of what might be hockey history in the making.
The deal transforms Schaefer from a burgeoning superstar on the ice to a collectible titan off of it. “It’s pretty special,” Schaefer confessed, eyes undoubtedly twinkling with the nostalgia of past evenings spent sifting through stacks of cards with his family. Now, he joins a lineage of icons like Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby as Upper Deck’s latest exclusive rookie sensation. Not too shabby for a teenager barely old enough to have a driver’s license, let alone become the face of a merchandising empire.
With Upper Deck, Schaefer enters a veritable Valhalla of athletic idols. Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, could hardly contain his excitement. “Matthew Schaefer is undeniably one of the most promising young talents in hockey today,” he declared, perhaps envisioning Schaefer as the linchpin for Upper Deck’s strategy to attract not only loyal hockey fans but also new enthusiasts to the trading card phenomenon. It’s not hard to imagine Masherah already coordinating the design for Schaefer’s debut “Young Guns” card—a coveted series for any up-and-comer in the sport.
Despite sporting injuries that could sideline less determined peers, Schaefer’s performance remains impressive. Serving as a formidable defenseman for the Erie Otters, he racked up 22 points over 17 games this season. If success is measured not by avoidance of adversities but by thriving despite them, then Schaefer is already playing in a league of his own. Across borders, his prowess is equally pronounced, having netted gold medals at the U17 World Challenge and U18 Worlds playing for Team Canada.
As Upper Deck begins ramping up its product line featuring Schaefer, collectors should prepare for a whirlwind of memorabilia. Signed pucks and jerseys, possibly brushing shoulders with Schaefer’s grinning visage, are expected to hit Upper Deck’s online storefront by the end of the month. Once Schaefer steps onto NHL ice, his first official trading cards will soon follow, signaling collectors everywhere that it’s time to dust off their binders and make room for a new heir to the hockey throne.
The 2025 NHL Draft marks more than just Schaefer’s full-fledged entry into professional hockey; it promises to be an exhilarating confluence of skills, expectations, and dreams. Scheduled to take place over June 27 and 28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater, the event will witness Schaefer stepping into the spotlight that has eagerly awaited him. As it turns out, this spotlight will have plenty of company: alongside the bright stage lights, Schaefer’s future fans will cradle their newly minted collectibles, each item a crystallized moment of his expansive journey.
Life for a rising hockey star is full of anticipated milestones, and Schaefer’s exclusive deal with Upper Deck represents another leap forward. It’s a synergistic partnership uniting an athlete poised for greatness with a company that has consistently captured such wonder. For those who admire the sport, this collaboration offers another layer of enjoyment, allowing fans to feel a part of his monumental career right from its exciting beginnings.
As trading cards and collectibles fly off shelves and digital domains, the tangible sense of being part of Schaefer’s ongoing story is something that can’t be measured merely by the number of jerseys sold or trading cards printed. It’s in the anticipation, the thrill of what’s to come, and the collective belief in Schaefer’s journey to greatness. Whether it’s on the ice or displayed proudly on a collector’s wall, Matthew Schaefer’s star is only going to ascend, and with it, every card, puck, and jersey that bears his name will become not just memorabilia, but pieces of his storied legacy.
