Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders has been named the 2025-26 recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy. The 18-year-old defenseman was officially awarded the honor by his father Todd, brother Johnny, and Islanders alumnus Matt Martin during a special segment on "GMA3."
Schaefer is the first player in over three decades to win the Calder Trophy unanimously. He received first-place votes on all 198 ballots cast by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. This marks only the second time in history that a player earned all first-place votes for the award, the last being Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Trophy and the first since Mathew Barzal in 2017-18. At 18 years, 223 days on the final day of the regular season, Schaefer is the youngest Calder winner in NHL history, one day younger than Nathan MacKinnon in 2013-14.
Schaefer’s rookie season was historic in multiple ways. He recorded 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in 82 games, breaking the NHL record for most points by an 18-year-old defenseman. His 23 goals matched the single-season record for rookie defensemen, while his total points surpassed Phil Housley’s 57 in 1982-83.
Schaefer’s impact wasn’t limited to the score sheet. He led all NHL rookies in time on ice with 2,023:59 and placed fifth among rookies in plus/minus at +13. He also became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to register a point in his debut and the first rookie defenseman in over 90 years to lead rookies in goals.
The Islanders now turn their attention to the 2026 playoffs. With Schaefer anchoring their blue line, New York is poised to build on a season that already includes one of the most historic rookie campaigns in league history.
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