Schaefer wins Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year

NEW YORK — Defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders is the 2025-26 recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophyintroduced “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,” as chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Schaefer was shocked with the trophy – by his father, Toddbrother, Johnnyas effectively as Islanders alumnus Matt Martin and his two daughters – throughout an interview on “Good Morning America.”

The No. 1 total choice in the 2025 NHL Draft is the sixth participant in Islanders historical past to seize the Calder Trophy and the first since Matthew Barzal in 2017-18. At 18 years, 223 days on the ultimate day of the common season, Schaefer is the youngest Calder Trophy winner in NHL historical past – in the future youthful than Nathan MacKinnon in 2013-14 (18 years, 224 days w/ COL).

As the first alternative on all 198 ballots, Schaefer is also the first unanimous Calder Trophy recipient since Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets acquired first-place votes on all 50 ballots solid after their historic 76-goal season in 1992-93.

Schaefer rewrote the League’s report e book for manufacturing by an 18-year-old defenseman with 23‑36—59 in 82 video games. Among his lengthy list of accomplishmentsSchaefer turned the youngest blueliner in NHL historical past to register some extent in his League debut, the youngest participant (at any place) in NHL historical past to attain an additional time purpose and the first defenseman in additional than 90 years to steer rookies (outright or tied) in objectives. His 23 objectives whereas his purpose and level totals surpassed Phil Housley (17-40—57 in 1982-83 w/ BUF) for the most by an 18-year-old defenseman. Schaefer, who positioned fifth amongst rookies in plus/minus (+13), achieved these feats whereas topping New York and all NHL rookies with 2,023:59 of whole time on ice – greater than 500 minutes forward of the next-closest rookie in 2025-26.