2026 NHL Calder Trophy Finalists: Schaefer Favored Over Demidov
Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke were announced on Tuesday as the three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL’s award for the most proficient player in his first year of competition.
The award will be decided next month by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and the vote will determine which rookie joins an elite list of past winners.
At 18 years old, Schaefer entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft and immediately made an impact for the New York Islanders.
He recorded 23 goals, tying the rookie defenseman record set by Brian Leetch in 1988‑89, and finished the season with 59 points, the highest total among rookie blueliners.
Schaefer also became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach the 50‑point plateau, a milestone that underscores his rapid development.
His 59 points placed him third overall among all first‑year skaters, demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively while maintaining defensive responsibilities.
Ivan Demidov, 20, made his NHL debut late in the previous season after a standout 2024‑25 campaign with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.
Drafted fifth overall in 2024, Demidov led all Calder candidates with 62 points and posted a league‑leading 43 assists.
His production helped the Montreal Canadiens secure a second‑round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, where the team currently sits as a contender.
Demidov’s 62 points rank fifth in total club scoring, reflecting his immediate integration into a historically strong Canadiens lineup.
Beckett Sennecke, also 20, represents the Anaheim Ducks and is the franchise’s first Calder finalist since Trevor Zegras in 2022.
Drafted third overall in 2024 behind Macklin Celebrini and Artyom Levshunov, Sennecke matched Schaefer’s 23 goals and finished with 60 points, trailing only Demidov among rookies.
He ranked third in overall scoring on a balanced Ducks roster that is now facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the playoffs.
The three finalists bring diverse skill sets: Schaefer’s power‑play quarterbacking, Demidov’s playmaking from the center, and Sennecke’s two‑way wing play.
Each player’s performance has been quantified in the table below, providing a clear statistical comparison of their rookie seasons.
| Player | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Schaefer | 23 | 36 |
| Ivan Demidov | 19 | 43 |
| Beckett Sennecke | 23 | 37 |
Beyond raw numbers, Schaefer’s impact is evident in his usage on the Islanders’ power play, where he logged over 20 minutes per game, a rare amount for a rookie defenseman.
His ability to quarterback the first‑minute unit has drawn comparisons to former Islanders greats, though his age makes the achievement unprecedented.
Demidov’s playmaking was most visible in his role centering the Canadiens’ top line, where his vision and passing accuracy generated high‑danger scoring chances.
His 43 assists set a new rookie benchmark for the club, surpassing the previous record held by rookie forwards in the modern era.
Sennecke’s contribution to the Ducks has been balanced between offensive production and defensive responsibility, as he logged a positive plus‑minus rating on a team that emphasized depth scoring.
His speed along the right flank and effective backchecking have allowed Anaheim to deploy him in various situations, from even strength to penalty kill.
The Islanders’ season context adds weight to Schaefer’s candidacy, as the team secured a playoff berth and advanced to the second round, relying heavily on his defensive stability.
Should he win, Schaefer would become the first Calder recipient for New York since Mathew Barzal’s 2018 victory, joining a storied list that includes Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier.
For the Canadiens, a Demidov win would represent back‑to‑back Calder winners, following defenseman Lane Hutson’s 2025 triumph.
This scenario would reinforce Montreal’s reputation for developing elite rookie talent, a narrative that has been highlighted in recent league discussions.
In Anaheim’s case, a Sennecke victory would mark the franchise’s first Calder trophy, ending a history that includes runner‑up finishes by Bobby Ryan in 2009 and Trevor Zegras in 2022.
The Ducks’ continued playoff run against the Golden Knights underscores the significance of Sennecke’s contributions to a team seeking its first championship.
Each finalist’s team trajectory also reflects broader league trends, with younger core groups propelling traditionally mid‑market clubs deeper into the postseason.
The Islanders, Canadiens and Ducks have all emphasized youth development in recent drafts, a strategy that appears to be paying dividends as evidenced by these Calder candidates.
Historically, the Calder Trophy has often forecasted future Hall of Fame careers, making the upcoming vote a point of interest for analysts and fans alike.
While the Professional Hockey Writers Association will ultimately decide the winner, the statistical and contextual evidence positions Schaefer as the heavy favorite.
His combination of age, record‑tying goal total, and historic point production for a teenage defenseman sets a benchmark that has yet to be matched in the modern era.
