The young stars were bright in the 2026 NHL season, but three players rose above the rest in the race for the Calder Trophy.
Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens, Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders and Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks were announced as finalists for the NHL’s rookie of the year award during Tuesday’s broadcast of the NHL Draft Lottery.
Demidov, 20, led all rookies in scoring this season with 62 points, including 19 goals, to help the Canadiens reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season. He led all rookies with 43 assists and 20 power-play points while appearing in all 82 games. Demidov is looking to be the second consecutive Canadiens player to win the Calder Trophy after Lane Hutson captured the award in 2025.
Schaefer, 18, was the No. 1 pick in last year’s NHL Draft and rewrote the history books in his rookie season. His 59 points in 82 games is the most ever by an 18-year-old rookie defenceman and he was the first defenceman in more than 90 years to lead all rookies in goals, with 23. Schaefer is looking to become the sixth Islanders player to win the Calder Trophy and the youngest winner in NHL history, at 18 years and 223 days, one day younger than Nathan MacKinnon was when he won the award in 2014.
Sennecke, 20, tied with Schaefer with 23 goals for most by all rookies, to help the Ducks return to the playoffs. He finished the season with 60 points while appearing in all 82 games. He has a chance to be the first Ducks player to win the Calder.
