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Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer first unanimous NHL rookie of the year recipient since 1993

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New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer has been awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

Youngest-ever Calder Trophy winner set multiple league marks for 18-year-old

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New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer skates against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena on March 30, 2026 in Elmont, New York.
Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft, is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie and youngest in NHL history at 18 years and 223 days. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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.

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.

WATCH | Schaefer’s play ‘almost contagious,’ says ex-Islanders coach Patrick Roy:

NHL rookie to watch: The making of Matthew Schaefer

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.


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