top of page

NHL: Matthew Schaefer headlines trio of Calder Trophy finalists

Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov, and Beckett Sennecke have been named finalists for the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy after standout rookie seasons. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards ceremony in June.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA/Reuters

May 06, 2026

Apr 9, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) reacts after scoring a goal in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena.

Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images/Reuters

Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov and Anaheim winger Beckett Sennecke were named as finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy on Tuesday.


The award, given annually to the "player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition," will be given out in June at the NHL Awards ceremony.


Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in last summer's draft, tied the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman (23) and set league records among 18-year-old defensemen in goals and points (62). His 2,023:59 minutes of ice time were over 500 minutes more than any other rookie this season and the second-highest total for a rookie since ice time started being tracked in 1997-98. Should Schaefer win, he would become the youngest Calder Trophy winner in history, a day younger than Nathan MacKinnon in 2013-14.


Demidov, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, led all 2025-26 rookies in points (62) and assists (43). He's the seventh 60-point rookie in franchise history and the fourth Montreal rookie to reach 40 assists. Should Demidov win after Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson won the award last season, Montreal would be the first team with consecutive Calder Trophy winners since Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson won it for the Boston Bruins in 1966-67 and 1967-68.


Sennecke was tied with Schaefer for the rookie lead in goals (23) and finished two points behind Demidov with 60 points. His goal total was the third-most by a Ducks rookie and he finished one assist and one point shy of Trevor Zegras' franchise records set in 2021-22, helping the Ducks break their seven-year playoff drought. Anaheim has never had a Calder Trophy winner, with Sennecke becoming the franchise's fourth finalist.


-Field Level Media/Reuters

TOP SPORTS STORIES

Add a Title

Start Now

Add a Title

Start Now

Add a Title

Start Now
Alex Eala goes down fighting against No. 2 Rybakina in Italian Open

Alex Eala goes down fighting against No. 2 Rybakina in Italian Open

Start Now
CYCLING: Magnier triumphs again to win Giro stage three in Sofia

CYCLING: Magnier triumphs again to win Giro stage three in Sofia

Start Now
TENNIS: Cirstea stuns top seed Sabalenka at the Italian Open

TENNIS: Cirstea stuns top seed Sabalenka at the Italian Open

Start Now

LATEST NEWS

Add a Title

Start Now

Add a Title

Start Now

Add a Title

Start Now
Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza, testing fragile ceasefire

Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza, testing fragile ceasefire

Start Now
Pope thanks Canary Islands for allowing hantavirus-hit cruise ship to disembark near Tenerife

Pope thanks Canary Islands for allowing hantavirus-hit cruise ship to disembark near Tenerife

Start Now
Qatar says cargo vessel coming from Abu Dhabi attacked in its waters

Qatar says cargo vessel coming from Abu Dhabi attacked in its waters

Start Now

PARALUMAN NEWS

© 2025 Paraluman News Publication

bottom of page