2026 NHL Calder Trophy finalists: Islanders' Schaefer remains heavy favorite

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksPlayoff bracketNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterNHL Playoffs Matthew Schaefer is widely expected to be named the NHL's top rookie. Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Share articleMatthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders, Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens and Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks were announced on Tuesday as the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition” in the NHL. The winner of the award, voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced next month. Schaefer, 18, was the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft and had a memorable debut season for the Islanders. He had 23 goals to tie Brian Leetch’s record as a rookie defenseman, set in 1988-89 for the New York Rangers. Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to record at least 50 points, with his 59 leading rookie blueliners and ranking third among all first-year skaters. Demidov, 20, had an excellent first season for the Canadiens after making his NHL debut late last season, following a stellar 2024-25 KHL campaign with SKA St. Petersburg. The No. 5 pick of the 2024 draft led all rookies with 62 points and ranked fifth on a Canadiens club currently facing the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs. No first-year player had more assists than Demidov’s 43. Sennecke, 20, is Anaheim’s first Calder finalist since Trevor Zegras in 2022. He had 23 goals to tie Schaefer for the rookie goal lead and finished with 60 points to trail only Demidov. The right wing, drafted No. 3 in 2024 behind Macklin Celebrini and Artyom Levshunov, was third in scoring on a balanced Ducks team that is playing the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. Schaefer is considered a heavy favorite to win the Calder after having one of the greatest seasons by a teenage defenseman. If he wins, the Hamilton, Ont., native will become the Islanders’ first Calder winner since Mathew Barzal in 2018 and join a group in club history that includes Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and Bryan Berard. Demidov would give the Canadiens back-to-back winners after defenseman Lane Hutson last year. The Ducks have never had a Calder winner, with Bobby Ryan finishing second in voting to Columbus goalie Steve Mason in 2009 and Zegras as the runner-up to Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider in 2022. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms