Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer unanimous Calder Trophy winnerGreg WyshynskiMay 13, 2026, 02:40 PM ETClose
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year, the first unanimous choice for the award in 33 years.
Schaefer, 18, was surprised with the trophy during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” His father Todd, brother Johnny and former Islanders player Matt Martin and his two daughters were present for the big reveal.
Schaefer lived with the Martins last season.
Editor’s Picks
Isles to donate $150K to honor Schaefer’s mom
2026 NHL draft: Updated top-32 rankings, plus player comps
Keys to the offseason: Free agency plans for Lightning and every eliminated NHL team
Schaefer dedicated his win to his late mother Jennifer, who he lost to breast cancer in 2024. Schaefer recently partnered with the Islanders Children’s Foundation and Northwell Health to create a child support center for cancer patients and their families.
“We’ve done a lot as a family. My mom’s helped me and my family so much with everything. We’ve had some tough losses, but it hasn’t stopped us as a family. We’ve gotten a lot closer,” a tearful Schaefer stated. “This definitely means a lot. This year was super important to me.”
The NHL decided to not delay the inevitable by naming Schaefer rookie of the year just over a week after revealing the finalists. The Islanders defenseman was a unanimous choice from the Professional Hockey Writers Association voters on all 198 ballots. He’s the first rookie of the year winner to sweep the first-place votes since Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93.
Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, 20, was second in the voting, earning 120 second-place votes. Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke, 20, was third.
Schaefer had a transformative effect on the Islanders on and off the ice. He finished with 23 goals, tied for first among rookies, and 36 assists for 59 points — breaking Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley’s record for points by an 18-year-old defenseman. It was one of several new standards set by Schaefer, who also tied Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for goals scored by a rookie defenseman.
His boundless enthusiasm and charisma changed the vibe for a franchise in need of a jolt. The Islanders challenged for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference before fading late in the season. Schaefer was so good, so quickly, that he played himself into the conversation for a Team Canada roster spot for the Winter Olympics before missing the cut.
