Reid Schaefer Bio
Reid Schaefer (born September 21, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League as a prospect to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. Schaefer was selected 32nd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and was later traded to the Nashville Predators organization in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Reid Schaefer was born in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, into a family with strong ties to ice hockey. His father, Jeremy, played junior hockey and was drafted by the Boston Bruins, and Schaefer grew up around the sport from an early age.
He developed his skills in local Alberta programs and advanced through the Canadian Sports School Hockey League with the Edmonton Okanagan Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team. Those formative seasons provided the foundation for his size, physical play and developing scoring touch that would attract junior scouts.
Path to Hockey
Schaefer’s path to major junior hockey began with his time at the OHA Edmonton Elite and with the Edmonton Okanagan Hockey Academy, where he compiled notable point totals for his age group. After being selected in the WHL bantam draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds, he signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement and began his Western Hockey League career in 2018.
During the pause to WHL play caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Schaefer kept competing at the junior level with the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, maintaining his progression and adapting to higher levels of physical competition. Those seasons and his return to the Thunderbirds set the stage for his breakout as a scorer in major junior hockey.
Reid Schaefer Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Schaefer signed with the Seattle Thunderbirds in September 2018 and made his initial appearances with the club as a teenager. He split time between development programs and junior clubs early on, including his play for the Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL when WHL play was disrupted by the pandemic.
Those early years emphasized physical development, learning to harness his size and reach while gaining experience against older competition. The steady progression through academy, AJHL and WHL games prepared him for a full-time role in major junior hockey by the 2021–22 season.
WHL Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Schaefer broke through with a full season for the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2021–22, scoring 32 goals and totaling 58 points in 66 regular season games. His production marked a significant jump in his draft stock and led NHL scouts to take closer notice of his combination of goal scoring, physical play and size.
That season moved Schaefer up NHL Central Scouting rankings and contributed to his selection 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Edmonton after the draft and attended development and rookie camps where he focused on strength and skating explosiveness.
During the 2022–23 campaign Schaefer remained a key contributor for the Thunderbirds as the team captured the WHL championship, winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup, and advanced to the Memorial Cup final. His play at the junior level combined scoring ability with net-front presence and gritty board play.
Nashville Predators Era (2023–Present)
On February 28, 2023, Schaefer was included in a trade to the Nashville Predators organization, moving from Edmonton along with Tyson Barrie and draft assets in exchange for Mattias Ekholm and a late pick. Following the transaction he became a Predators prospect and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, as part of his professional development.
Schaefer began his professional career in 2023 while under the terms of his entry-level contract that runs through 2025. He has worked on translating his WHL scoring and physical tools to the faster, more structured play of the AHL and on adapting to the responsibilities expected of a middle-six forward at the NHL level.
Playing Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 5 in and roughly 226 lb, Schaefer offers size and reach that create matchup problems for opponents. He plays with a heavy net-front presence, uses his frame to protect pucks and drives to the crease, and has shown a scoring instinct at the junior level that projects as a top asset.
Scouts have noted his tenacity and a developing scoring touch combined with a physical edge. Continued work on skating speed and puck-handling under pressure is a stated focus as he adjusts to professional pace and systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Schaefer’s career include his 32-goal WHL season in 2021–22, being selected 32nd overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, signing a three-year entry-level contract, and being traded to the Nashville Predators organization in February 2023. He was part of the Seattle Thunderbirds team that won the 2023 WHL championship and reached the Memorial Cup final the same year.
Reid Schaefer Career Wins
Schaefer’s verified team achievements include a WHL championship with the Seattle Thunderbirds and a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Those wins highlight contributions at both the major junior and international junior levels.
WHL Highlights
In the WHL, Schaefer’s most notable season was 2021–22 when he scored 32 goals and finished with 58 points in 66 games, a performance that helped solidify his status as a first-round NHL prospect. He played a role in the Thunderbirds’ run to the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2023 and their appearance in the Memorial Cup final.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Internationally, Schaefer was named to the Team Canada roster for the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and recorded an assist in seven tournament games while winning a gold medal. That international success is among his most significant early-career accomplishments.
Reid Schaefer Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Reid Schaefer’s father, Jeremy, played junior hockey and was drafted by the Boston Bruins, contributing to a family environment familiar with the demands of competitive hockey. Schaefer also has hockey relatives who have reached professional levels, reinforcing a multi-generational connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Schaefer was raised in Spruce Grove, Alberta, where he developed in local programs before moving into major junior competition. Public information on his personal life beyond his hockey family and development is limited.
2025 Season Performance
As of 2025 Schaefer remains under his entry-level contract that began in 2022 and runs through 2025, a period during which his status as a prospect to the Nashville Predators is central to his development calendar. He continues to gain professional experience with the Milwaukee Admirals while the Predators monitor his transition to the NHL game.
With his contract approaching its conclusion in 2025, Schaefer’s immediate outlook is focused on demonstrating consistency in the AHL, improving skating and in-game decision-making, and earning consideration for NHL minutes with Nashville. Those verified structural elements shape his 2025 season priorities and opportunities.
