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Former Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer unanimous winner of NHL's Calder Trophy
TL;DR
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders won the NHL's Calder Trophy for the 2025-26 season, becoming the youngest recipient in history at 18 years and 223 days old.
Key points
- Matthew Schaefer won the Calder Trophy for the 2025-26 season
- He is the youngest recipient in Calder Trophy history
- Schaefer was 18 years and 223 days old at the time of the award
- Nathan MacKinnon was the previous youngest winner
Calder TrophyNHLMatthew SchaeferNew York Islanders
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was unanimously voted the winner of the National Hockey Leagueâs 2025-26 Calder Memorial Trophy.
That undisputed outcome, though, wasnât why the former Erie Otter became a historic recipient of its rookie of the year award.
Schaefer also became the youngest honoree of a trophy first presented in 1937. The Hamilton, Ontario, native, was 18 years and 223 days old for the final day of the Islandersâ regular season.
Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was one day older as the Calder Trophyâs 2013-14 recipient.
Former Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, shown here in an Oct. 21, 2025, NHL game for the New York Islanders, was unanimously voted the winner of the league's Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie for its 2025-26 regular season.
Schaeferâs father and brother were among those surprised him with the news during his May 13 interview on ABCâs âGood Morning America.â Â Missing was Jennfier Schaefer, who died from breast cancer in 2024.
Matthew Schaefer dedicated the award to his mother.
"We've done a lot as a family,â Schaefer said in comments republished in an espn.com article. âMy mom helped me and my family so much with everything. We've had some tough losses, but it hasn't stopped us as a family.
âThis (award) definitely means a lot. This year was super important to me."
More: NHL draft lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs will pick No. 1 overall
Q&A
What is the Calder Trophy and who won it in 2025-26?
The Calder Trophy is awarded to the NHL's best rookie, and in the 2025-26 season, it was won by Matthew Schaefer.
How old was Matthew Schaefer when he won the Calder Trophy?
Matthew Schaefer was 18 years and 223 days old when he won the Calder Trophy, making him the youngest recipient in history.
Who was the previous youngest winner of the Calder Trophy?
The previous youngest winner was Nathan MacKinnon, who was one day older than Schaefer when he won the award in the 2013-14 season.
