Matthew Schaefer’s historic rookie season is one step away from being immortalized in hardware. 

During a live broadcast of the NHL draft lottery Tuesday night, the 18-year-old defenseman was announced as a finalist for the 2026 Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player “selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.” 

Schaefer was announced alongside Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke. 

The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association members at the conclusion of the regular season. 

Schaefer has long been considered the front-runner for the award after making an immediate impact on the Islanders in more ways than one. 

After the Islanders selected Schaefer with the top pick in last year’s draft, the Ontario native endeared himself to the fanbase and the entire NHL both on the ice and off. His stardom has pulled a much-needed spotlight onto the hockey club on Long Island. 

Posting 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) over 82 games, Schaefer tied Brian Leetch’s record for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. 

After a strong first season behind the bench of the Isles’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Rocky Thompson earned a place with the varsity club as an assistant coach, the team announced Tuesday.