New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer has been awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.
Selected first overall in the 2025 NHL draft, Schaefer is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Trophy and the youngest winner in NHL history at 18 years and 223 days — surpassing Nathan MacKinnon (18 years, 224 days in 2013-14).
He is also the first unanimous winner since Winnipeg Jets forward Teemu Selanne in 1992-93 after earning the first-place vote on all 198 ballots cast.
Schaefer set NHL records for an 18-year-old defenceman with 23 goals and 59 points.
He also led all rookies in ice time with over 2,023 minutes and finished fifth among rookies with a plus-13 rating.
Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, who finished second in voting, and Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke were the other finalists. Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes was fourth in voting.
After being selected first overall in the 2025 NHL draft, Canada’s Matthew Schaefer is having an extraordinary rookie season, but getting here wasn’t always easy. In an interview, he tells CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault about the personal losses that shaped his journey.
