Looking for some more information on the Oilers’ latest first-round pick? Here we’ve put together a collection of scouting reports and highlights regarding newly drafted forward, Reid Schaefer. The Edmonton Oilers selected Schaefer with the 32nd overall pick after making a trade with the Arizona Coyotes that moved Zack Kassian to the desert while also sliding down a few spots from 29th overall.

Below you will find a collection of pre-draft scouting reports on Reid Schaefer from varying prospects writers around the league.

“A late-bloomer that broke out this season, Schaefer was a major part of Seattle’s run to the WHL finals. He’s big, skates well for his size, and put up 32 goals in 66 games this season. He plays the game with strength but also has soft touch on the puck which has led him to rising up draft boards throughout the season.” – Chris Peters, Daily Faceoff

“Schaefer is listed at 6’3″ and 214 pounds and is described by scouts as a player who skates well, hits hard and often, and isn’t afraid to go to the net. Coming into the season, Schaefer was slotted as a prospect who would go late in the draft, but his breakout season has him as a second- or early third-round pick on most draft lists. With that in mind, he could be a perfect target for the Oilers if they want to trade down from No. 29 overall and make more selections outside the first round. When the Oilers tried to emulate the Lucic selection in the past, they looked at big forwards from the WHL with a certain physical profile while ignoring their production. With Schaefer, there’s a player who has all of the tools along with the proven ability to produce offensively.” -Cam Lewis, Oilersnation.com

“Schaefer can best be described as a modern-day power forward. He is willing to go to the dirty areas, score goals in-tight, and isn’t one to back down from a physical challenge. Showing promising development, he has scored at a decent rate this season after hardly producing in his first WHL campaign. Hard to miss, the 6-3, 214-pound winger plays a heavy, powerful game and is very tough to play against. Using powerful, long strides, Schaefer is able to get up to speed with the game when he gets his wheels turning, and is agile enough to stay on the forecheck and make quick stops and turns. Combine this with his energy and effort on every shift, and you can see why he is a thorn in the side of his opponents. This style of play is not fun to play against, as he is able to pressure defenders on the forecheck easily and make their jobs difficult. Schaefer is a versatile power forward, however as he plays on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Utilizing his big frame and long reach, he can disrupt powerplay breakouts and take away passing lanes on the kill. On the man advantage, his booming shot and physical presence play a big role in Seattle’s success in special teams. There isn’t a lot to dislike about his game as his style of play will translate to the next level but his skating speed could improve if he lightens his heavy feet and adds some more power to his push-offs. Schaefer could very well see himself going earlier than many expect in this year’s draft as his translatable skills and NHL-ready tendencies will have some scouts rating him very highly.” -Evan Pace, Dobber Prospects

“Reid Schaefer of the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) is a developing story in this year’s draft. A projected mid-round selection early in the year, he has size (6-foot-3, 214 pounds) and enough skill to score 32 goals in 66 WHL games. He gains net-front position easily and he hits hard and often. Like Gaucher, he’s more of a power forward but does present an intriguing option as a big disturber with goal-scoring ability.” – Lowetide, The Athletic

“Schaefer has certainly proven projections wrong during his NHL draft season. He opened the year with a ‘C’ rating from NHL Central Scouting, which is assigned to those considered candidates to be picked in the fourth round or later. He was No. 85 on the mid-season list of North American skaters, but after scoring 32 goals in 66 games he rocketed up to No. 31 in the final rankings.” -Craig Button, TSN director of scouting

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.” -Last Word on Sports