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Schaefer, Demidov, Sennecke Finalists for Calder Trophy

5/6/2026

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Summary

NHL Announces Calder

The NHL named Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke as Calder finalists.
Schaefer tied the goal record with 23 goals and set a 59-point record for 18-year-olds.
Demidov posted 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) while Sennecke matched the 23-goal lead and helped end a playoff drought.
The Calder Trophy will be presented in June at NHL Awards, where a Demidov win would give Montreal first since the 1960s.

Summary

Toronto Wins Draft

The NHL Draft Lottery gave Toronto the No. 1 pick for the 2026 draft.
The Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer with the 2025 No. 1 pick.
2024 fifth-overall pick Ivan Demidov played two NHL games before his rookie season.
Beckett Sennecke entered the league as the 2024 third-overall pick for the Anaheim Ducks.
Team Canada omitted Schaefer from the Olympic roster, expecting his future inclusion.

Summary

Demidov Drafted

Céline Dion announced Ivan Demidov’s 2024 NHL Draft selection for the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Martin St. Louis said Demidov has an elite offensive computer and the skills to use it.
Demidov debuted on April 14, 2025, against Chicago, recording one goal and one assist.
The Canadiens fielded a Calder Trophy finalist for the second straight year after Lane Hutson’s nomination.

Summary

NHL Announces Finalists

The NHL confirmed Calder Trophy voting is complete and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony alongside the Stanley Cup Finals.
The league’s lottery gave the New York Islanders a 2 % chance at the top pick, which did not materialize.
Matthew Schaefer debuted a month after turning 18, earned his first point and scored his first goal at UBS Arena.
The NHL Lottery and Calder finalist announcement took place on May 5, 2026.

History

Historical Context

Since the NHL instituted its annual entry draft, the 1979 draft marked an early iteration of the league’s player allocation system. Subsequent drafts, such as those in 1987 and 2016, continued this process, allowing clubs like the Montreal Canadiens to select amateur talent and shape future rosters. The draft remains a cornerstone of NHL team building.

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NHL Announces Calder

The NHL named Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov and Beckett Sennecke as Calder finalists.
Schaefer tied the goal record with 23 goals and set a 59-point record for 18-year-olds.
Demidov posted 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) while Sennecke matched the 23-goal lead and helped end a playoff drought.
The Calder Trophy will be presented in June at NHL Awards, where a Demidov win would give Montreal first since the 1960s.

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