Reid Schaefer Bio
Reid Schaefer (born September 21, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he develops as a prospect for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 196 cm tall and listed at 103 kg, Schaefer plays a power-forward game built on size, scoring touch, and a willingness to engage physically. He was originally drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft before being traded to Nashville the following season.
A native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Schaefer has built his reputation through the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds and on the international stage with Team Canada. He captured a gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and continues his development as a prospect in the Nashville organization.
Early Life and Background
Reid Schaefer was born on September 21, 2003, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, to his father Jeremy. He grew up in an athletic household shaped by hockey, with both his father and his cousin having played the sport at a high level. His father was drafted by the NHL’s Boston Bruins after a five-year career in the Western Hockey League, giving the family a direct connection to professional hockey.
Schaefer’s cousin, Colin Fraser, was also a third-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, further embedding the sport into the family’s identity. Surrounded by relatives who had reached the professional ranks, Schaefer was introduced to organized hockey at a young age in the Edmonton region. The combination of family influence and Alberta’s strong hockey culture helped shape his early interest in the game.
Path to Hockey
Schaefer began his competitive path with the Edmonton Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) Bantam Prep Team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League. During the 2017–18 season, he recorded 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 27 games, establishing himself as a forward to watch. After being selected in the eighth round of the WHL Bantam Draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds, he returned to OHA Edmonton Elite, where he produced 24 points across 34 games.
Following his second OHA prep season, Schaefer signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Thunderbirds on September 2, 2018. He appeared in seven games with Seattle before the COVID-19 pandemic paused the WHL season. During the 2019–20 pause, he joined the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), where he posted 6 goals and 16 points along with 32 penalty minutes, gaining valuable experience in a men’s junior league.
Reid Schaefer Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Schaefer played his first full WHL season in 2021–22 with the Seattle Thunderbirds, scoring 32 goals and 58 points in 66 regular-season games. Entering the year, he was ranked as a ‘C’ prospect on NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, meaning few expected him to be a first-round selection.
His production drove a steady rise in his draft ranking, and he finished the year ranked 31st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Schaefer credited his offseason work for the improvement, and Edmonton Oilers scouts encouraged General Manager Ken Holland to attend the WHL final games in Edmonton to evaluate him. Drawing pre-draft comparisons to Zack Kassian, he was praised for his skill, scoring touch, and tenacity, leading to his selection 32nd overall by the Oilers.
WHL and Trade to Nashville (2022–2023)
Following the draft, Schaefer signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers and took part in their development and rookie camps, where he focused on building strength and skating explosiveness. He was returned to the Thunderbirds for the 2022–23 season and never appeared in a regular-season game for Edmonton.
On February 28, 2023, Edmonton traded Schaefer, along with Tyson Barrie, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick, to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Mattias Ekholm and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Despite the midseason change of organization, Schaefer helped the Thunderbirds capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. Seattle then advanced to the final of the 2023 Memorial Cup, where they were defeated by the Quebec Remparts.
Milwaukee Admirals Era (2023–Present)
After his trade to Nashville, Schaefer was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL to continue his professional development. He has remained with the Admirals as a top Nashville prospect, working to translate his WHL scoring and physicality into production at the professional level. The move gave him a full-time role in a structured development system while keeping him within the Predators’ pipeline.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schaefer is recognized as a middle-six winger with legitimate skill, a scoring touch, and a tenacious, physical approach. At 196 cm and 103 kg, he uses his size to win battles along the boards and protect the puck, while his skating and explosiveness have been focal points of his offseason training. The combination of size, skill, and a competitive edge has made him a projectable NHL power forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schaefer’s signature moments include being selected 32nd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and winning a gold medal with Canada at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also helped the Seattle Thunderbirds win the Ed Chynoweth Cup and reach the 2023 Memorial Cup final, highlighting his role on a contending WHL team during his draft-plus-one year.
Reid Schaefer Career Wins
Reid Schaefer’s most prominent team accomplishment is the 2023 Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions with the Seattle Thunderbirds. That same season, he added a gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with Team Canada, one of the most prestigious titles available in junior international hockey.
WHL Highlights
During the 2021–22 WHL regular season, Schaefer scored 32 goals and 58 points in 66 games, then helped lead the Thunderbirds to the 2022–23 WHL title. His first extended run in the league came after signing with Seattle in 2018, and his most recent verified championship run ended with a Memorial Cup final appearance in 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
In the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Schaefer contributed 6 goals and 16 points with the Spruce Grove Saints during the 2019–20 season. On the international stage, he recorded one assist in seven games at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping Canada defeat Czechia in the gold-medal final.
Reid Schaefer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Schaefer comes from a hockey-driven family, with his father Jeremy having been drafted by the Boston Bruins after a five-year WHL career. His cousin Colin Fraser was a third-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, giving Reid direct relatives who reached professional hockey and reinforcing a strong athletic upbringing in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
Personal Life
Reid Schaefer keeps his personal life largely private, with no public details regarding a spouse or children. He continues to focus on his development within the Nashville Predators organization, splitting time between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Reid Schaefer remains a key prospect within the Nashville Predators system, continuing his development with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. The focus of his campaign is on refining his two-way game, building consistency in his scoring, and adjusting to the pace and physicality of professional hockey on a nightly basis.
With three-year entry-level contract terms running through the 2024–25 season, Schaefer is in a critical evaluation window for Nashville’s front office. Strong performances in Milwaukee could position him for his first NHL call-up, while continued emphasis on strength, explosiveness, and special-teams responsibility are expected to shape his role within the organization.
As the Predators monitor his progress, the 2025 season represents an important opportunity for Schaefer to demonstrate that the skill, scoring touch, and tenacity that defined his WHL career can translate to the professional ranks.