The NHL announced on Wednesday afternoon that New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top first-year player.
MAT-THEW SCHAE-FER 👏👏👏👏👏 #NHLAwards
— NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2026
The @NYIslanders’ 2025 No. 1 #NHLDraft pick, Matthew Schaefer, is this year’s Calder Memorial Trophy winner — an award presented to the player who was the most proficient in his first year in the League. pic.twitter.com/X79uom6mAn
Schaefer did not just win the award; he completely dominated the voting process. Appearing as the first choice on all 198 ballots cast by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, he became the first unanimous Calder Trophy recipient since Teemu Selanne accomplished the feat in 1992-93.
Drafted first overall by the Islanders in 2025 out of the OHL's Erie Otters, Schaefer arrived with sky-high expectations and immediately exceeded them. He rewrote the record books for teenage blueliners, finishing the year with 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in 82 games. His 23 goals matched Brian Leetch’s all-time NHL record for a rookie defenseman, while his 59 points surpassed Phil Housley's for the most ever recorded by an 18-year-old at the position.
Remarkably, at 18 years and 223 days old on the final day of the regular season, Schaefer edged out Nathan MacKinnon by a single day to become the youngest Calder Trophy winner in league history.
Schaefer was surprised with the trophy during an interview on "GMA3," presented to him by his father, Todd, his brother, Johnny, and Islanders alumnus Matt Martin.