Matthew Schaefer wins Calder Trophy in unanimous vote
I’m not crying you’re crying. | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was surprised by his family — and his adopted family, the Martins — during a Good Morning America TV performance with the Calder Trophy on Wednesday. That the 18-year-old phenom took the prize for the NHL’s best rookie in 2025-26 is no surprise; but the way the news was delivered was a poignant, touching moment for a kid who’s been through a lot and turned his story into an example and inspiration for children facing similar heartache.
Watch his reaction, and his dad reminding him this is a good day, in the tweet below: #Isles Matthew Schaefer on @GMA just now was emotional as he was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy surrounded by his family, friends and the Martin family. Just awesome stuff. pic.
twitter. com/IXmbJADVtT — Rob Taub (@RTaub_) May 13, 2026 The vote to award Schaefer the top spot was reportedly unanimous: all 198 voters listed him at the top of their ballot. That’s a historic achievement not seen in three decades.
#Isles Matthew Schaefer at 18 years, 223 days is youngest ever winner of Calder Trophy, one day younger than Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon in 2014. He’s also the first unanimous recipient since Teemu Selanne (original Winnipeg Jets) in 1993. — Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) May 13, 2026 It just adds to the list of historic superlatives from his rookie season when he won over Long Island and beyond.
There are too many to summarize, so just check it all out from the Islanders’ team release : Schaefer is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, joining Mat Barzal (2018), Bryan Berard (1997), Mike Bossy (1978), Bryan Trottier (1976), and Denis Potvin (1974). He is also the 13th first-overall pick to be awarded the Calder and just the fourth defenseman to do so, joining Aaron Ekblad (2015), Berard and Potvin. Notably, three of those four defensemen played for the Islanders.
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