The NHL has announced the three finalists for the 2025-26 Calder Memorial Trophy, and this year’s rookie race has star power, production, and three players who made a major impact on their teams right away. Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke all put together seasons worthy of attention, but they did it in different ways.
Demidov brought high-end offense to Montreal. Sennecke became a major piece of Anaheim’s young core. Schaefer, meanwhile, delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons ever by a young defenseman. The Calder Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top rookie, and this year’s vote should be one of the more interesting ones in recent memory.
Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27, 2025. The Islanders took the Erie Otters defenseman at No. 1, and he wasted no time showing why he was viewed as a franchise-changing blue liner.
Schaefer finished the 2025-26 season with 23 goals, 36 assists, and 59 points in 82 games. For a rookie defenseman, those numbers are outstanding. For an 18-year-old rookie defenseman, they are historic. He tied the single-season NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman and passed Phil Housley for the most goals and points by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.
What made Schaefer’s season even more impressive was the workload. He led all NHL rookies and the Islanders in total time on ice, playing more than 2,023 minutes during the regular season. The Islanders also leaned on him in major situations, and he led all rookies in average ice time at 24:41 per game. That is not sheltered rookie usage. That is top-pair responsibility.
Schaefer helped New York by changing the dynamic of its back end. He gave the Islanders a puck-moving defenseman who could push offense, run a power play, jump into the attack, and still handle big minutes against NHL competition. He led the Islanders in time on ice, plus-minus rating, and power-play goals, while ranking second on the team in goals, assists, and points.
For Sportsvival, Schaefer’s case is simple. A rookie forward putting up 60 points is impressive. A rookie defenseman putting up nearly 60 points while playing huge minutes every night is on another level.
Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Ivan Demidov was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere in Las Vegas. Montreal landed one of the most skilled offensive players in that draft class, and in 2025-26 he showed why the Canadiens were so excited to add him.
Demidov led all NHL rookies with 43 assists and 62 points while playing in all 82 games. He also scored 19 goals and finished first among rookies in power-play points with 20. His production was not empty offense either. He helped Montreal reach the playoffs for the second straight season and became the seventh rookie in Canadiens history to record 60 points in a season.
Demidov was a major piece of Montreal’s attack because of his creativity, puck skill, and ability to create offense for others. He gave the Canadiens a dynamic playmaking winger who could help drive scoring chances and make their power play more dangerous. His 14 multi-point games showed that he was not just contributing here and there. He was a consistent offensive threat.
The Canadiens have been building around young skill, and Demidov gave them another top-end offensive weapon. He led all rookies in points, assists, and power-play points, which gives him a very strong Calder argument. If voters focus heavily on raw offensive production, Demidov has a real chance to win.
Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks
Beckett Sennecke was drafted third overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2024 NHL Draft on June 28, 2024. At the time, Anaheim saw a high-skill winger with size, hands, vision, and the upside to become part of its young core.
Sennecke rewarded that belief with a huge rookie season. He played in all 82 games for Anaheim and finished with 23 goals, 37 assists, and 60 points. His 23 goals tied him for the rookie lead, and his 60 points ranked second among NHL rookies behind Demidov.
Sennecke also helped push Anaheim back into the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. That matters. The Ducks have been waiting for their young talent to start turning potential into wins, and Sennecke became one of the players who helped move that process forward.
He was especially strong at even strength. Sennecke led rookies in even-strength goals and even-strength points, and he ranked near the top of the rookie class in shots on goal, assists, multi-point games, and total time on ice. That type of all-around offensive involvement shows how quickly he became trusted in Anaheim’s lineup.
Sennecke’s season also came close to franchise history. His 37 assists and 60 points were each one short of Trevor Zegras’ Ducks rookie records from 2021-22. Anaheim has never had a Calder Trophy winner, and Sennecke gave the Ducks one of the best rookie seasons in team history.
Sportsvival’s Calder Trophy Pick
All three finalists have a strong case. Demidov led all rookies in points and was a major reason Montreal’s offense took another step. Sennecke scored 23 goals, played every game, and helped Anaheim return to the playoffs. Both wingers had seasons worthy of Calder consideration.
But Sportsvival thinks Matthew Schaefer should win the Calder Trophy.
Schaefer’s offensive production was great, but it is the complete picture that separates him. He was not just a rookie defenseman putting up points. He was an 18-year-old defenseman playing massive minutes, setting NHL records, producing offense, handling responsibility, and becoming one of the most important players on the Islanders’ back end.
For Sportsvival, that is the difference. Demidov and Sennecke were excellent, but Schaefer’s impact from the blue line was special. Based on his historic rookie season and the way he helped stabilize and elevate the Islanders’ defense, Sportsvival believes D-Matthew Schaefer will win the 2025-26 Calder Memorial Trophy.