The finalists for the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy — awarded to the league’s top rookie — were announced on Tuesday, with New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer joined by Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke on the three-man ballot. The winner, chosen by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be revealed next month.
Schaefer, 18, has emerged as the heavy favorite after a historic first season following his selection as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. The Hamilton, Ont., native scored 23 goals, tying Brian Leetch’s mark for most goals by a rookie defenseman set in 1988-89, and finished with 59 points — the most among rookie blueliners and third overall among first-year skaters. He also became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach 50 points, a milestone that helped anchor his case as possibly the best offensive campaign by a teenage defenseman in league history.
Demidov, 20, paced all rookies in scoring with 62 points and led the class with 43 assists in his first full NHL season. The No. 5 pick in 2024, Demidov made his debut at the end of last season after an outstanding 2024-25 campaign in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. He ranks fifth in total scoring for the Canadiens this season and has been a key contributor as Montreal battles the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the playoffs.
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Sennecke, also 20, matched Schaefer’s rookie goal total with 23 and compiled 60 points to rank second among rookies. The Ducks’ first Calder finalist since Trevor Zegras in 2022, Sennecke was the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft and finished as the third-leading scorer on a balanced Anaheim squad that is competing against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. His production helped propel the Ducks’ young core this season and put him on the shortlist despite playing on a team with multiple contributors.
If Schaefer wins, he would become the Islanders’ first Calder recipient since Mathew Barzal in 2018 and join a small group of club greats who have taken home the award. Demidov, meanwhile, could give Montreal consecutive Calder winners following defenseman Lane Hutson’s victory last year. The Ducks are still searching for their first Calder winner; the franchise has come close before, with Bobby Ryan finishing second in 2009 and Zegras ending as the runner-up in 2022.
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The Calder Trophy has long been a spotlight for rising stars, and this year’s ballot features a mix of high draft pedigree and international development. Voting will be conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, with the winner announced next month during the NHL’s awards season.
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