New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has been named the NHL’s rookie of the year, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as a unanimous choice — the first time the award has been decided unanimously in 33 years, the report says. The Professional Hockey Writers Association placed Schaefer atop all 198 ballots, a sweep not seen since Teemu Selanne in 1992-93, per the report.
Schaefer, 18, was surprised with the award during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, the report says. Family members present for the presentation included his father, Todd, his brother, Johnny, and former Islanders forward Matt Martin and Martin’s two daughters; Schaefer lived with the Martins last season, the report says. He dedicated the honor to his late mother, Jennifer, who died of breast cancer in 2024, per the report.
On the ice, Schaefer set new standards for an 18-year-old defenseman, finishing with 23 goals, tied for the rookie lead, and 36 assists for 59 points, the report says. That total surpassed the points mark set by Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley for an 18-year-old defenseman, and Schaefer also matched Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for goals scored by a rookie defenseman, per the report.
The report says Schaefer’s impact extended beyond statistics. His energy and charisma were credited with changing the mood of a franchise that had sought a lift, and he had a transformative effect on the team both on and off the ice. He also partnered with the Islanders Children’s Foundation and Northwell Health to establish a child support center for cancer patients and their families, per the report.
Voting unfolded quickly after the NHL revealed the finalists just over a week earlier, the report says. Montreal forward Ivan Demidov finished second in the voting, collecting 120 second-place votes, while Anaheim forward Beckett Sennecke was third. Schaefer’s rapid rise even placed him in early conversation for a Team Canada Winter Olympics roster spot before he ultimately missed the cut, the report says.
