Islanders' Matthew Schaefer Leads Calder Trophy Race at Olympic Break

Matthew Schaefer, the 18-year-old New York Islanders defenseman, is the overwhelming favorite for the 2026 Calder Trophy, currently holding -1000 odds as of February 15th. Halfway through the 2025-26 NHL season and heading into the Olympic break, Schaefer leads contenders like Ivan Demidov (+900), Beckett Sennecke, and Jesper Wallstedt, making him a strong candidate to win the award.