by Jason Karnosky

With every crushing body check, ripped shot, or perfectly executed tip at the net front, Reid Schaefer is showing himself as a dominant player in the American Hockey League.

With a bright future ahead, and a long-term injury behind him, the Milwaukee Admirals are lucky to have the budding star in their lineup.

“Reid is a young power forward whose game is growing, and we are excited to see what his future and top end will be,” Admirals coach Karl Taylor said. “He’s come a long way in his time with us. He’s scoring more and he’s gaining more confidence.”

Recently returned from Milwaukee’s National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate Nashville, Schaefer had a big night on January 27th against Rockford, picking up two goals and an assist in his team’s marathon 5-3 win.

That three-point effort came in Schaefer’s 19th game with Milwaukee this season. Affectionately known as Big Red thanks to his combination of size, strength, and flowing red hair, the six-foot-four-inch forward is averaging nearly a point a game in the AHL.

“Team success leads to individual success, and I’ve got really good linemates here in Milwaukee,” said Schaefer, who has six goals and 18 points with the Admirals this season. “I have a great team to play with, and they make it easy on me.”

Schaefer’s 22 games with Milwaukee this season are three more than the number of contests he played in a year ago. His sophomore’s AHL campaign was cut short after getting hurt in a 5-2 loss to Iowa on December 5, 2024.

After a long recovery, Schaefer struggled to find the back of the net his third professional season. The heavy-hitting forward was without a goal through the first 11 games, but in the 12th contest he kickstarted a 3-1 come from behind victory against Texas on November 15.

It was a classic Schaefer goal, burying his own rebound after teammate Ryan Ufko drove to the net with the puck.

“It was nice to see Reid finally get a goal and get on the board there,” Taylor said after the game. “He’s been coming, and it’s been coming for him, but we still want him to be a little more direct and shoot more. When the play is there, we want him to make plays, but he’s got a great shot, and we want to see him rip it a little more.”

Schaefer took his coach’s message to heart and has been on fire playing for Milwaukee ever since. Including that tally against Texas, the 22-year-old prospect scored goals in four of eight AHL contests and has now racked up five multi-point efforts.

“There still a little more there to give, but Reid has been bringing his game up to a new level,” Taylor said. “He looks fast, and he’s been on top of the puck for us.”

Thanks to that improved play, Schaefer finally earned his first call up. A little less than a year after his season-ending injury, Big Red made his NHL debut, helping the Predators knock off Chicago 4-3 on November 28, 2025.

Two games later Schaefer scored his first NHL goal, getting Nashville on the board in an eventual 5-1 trouncing of the Calgary Flames on December 2, 2025.

That play was a near carbon copy of Schaefer’s first AHL goal this season, a net front play where he scored off his own rebound. Schaefer got to celebrate the milestone alongside former Milwaukee teammate Ozzy Wiesblatt, who also got his first NHL goal that night.

“There were a lot of special nights for a bunch of different people,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette told reporters after the win, which also included Predators forward Steven Stamkos getting his 1,200th career point. “That’s what makes the game great, and to cap it off with a win makes it even better. I think for [Schaefer and Wiesblatt] … we all remember our first ones.”

A year ago, Schaefer got off to a hot start, scoring goals in four straight games as Milwaukee raced to an early eight-game winning streak. Schaefer logged many minutes playing alongside crafty veteran Vinnie Hinostroza during that abbreviated campaign.

While a bit of an odd couple with their different styles of play, Schaefer and Hinostroza worked well together.

“(Reid) was young, but he was so strong,” said Hinostroza, Schaefer’s former teammate who was claimed off waivers by Minnesota midway through the 2024-25 season. “It was cool to play with him, and I got to watch him grow and evolve as a player.”

Schaefer posted a career best four points in a 6-5 overtime loss against Cleveland on November 24, 2024.

“I use Reid in every situation, so he’s on the ice a lot of times,” Taylor said. “He has a lot of will and purpose, and we want him to carry that will and purpose in everything he does.”

Schaefer was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (the 32nd selection overall). However, before Schaefer played a game for his hometown Alberta club or its AHL affiliate, he was traded to Nashville as part of a multiplayer transaction that saw Mattias Ekholm go to the Oilers.

The trade surprised Schaefer, but the Edmonton native later embraced it.

“It was a little shocking to me, but now that I’m with Nashville, it is a great organization,” Schaefer said. “They have great staff here, and for me to be a part of it has been awesome. They’ve treated me well and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Following a 61-point campaign as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, Schaefer turned pro and joined Milwaukee for the 2023-24 season.

The AHL rookie put up a commendable seven goals and 21 points, helping Milwaukee reach the Western Conference finals for the second straight season.

“At times that first year you could see how much of a beast Reid could be, especially with his big hits,” former teammate Cal O’Reilly said. “He was so strong, and so fast. Plus, he could shoot and he played hard.”

O’Reilly can see a lengthy NHL future in the cards for Schaefer.

“Reid has really taken a step, scored some goals, and (has regained) his confidence,” O’Reilly said. “He played the game the right way and he played that way every night. He’s got the potential to be a good NHL player.”

In Milwaukee Schaefer is putting in the effort every day to be ready for a permanent promotion.

“I keep working on my speed and playing a big man’s game,” Schaefer said. “I want to be known as a player who plays that power forward role, who has a big body and throws it around, but I also want to be someone who can contribute to a team offensively.”