The NHL’s 2025-26 season is just a month underway, but two players have already distinguished themselves as frontrunners for the league’s premier individual awards. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer is making waves in the Calder Trophy race, while Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar is set to contend for his third James Norris Trophy.
At only 18 years old, Schaefer has impressed across 20 games with seven goals, eight assists, and 15 points, leading all rookies ahead of Montreal’s Ivan Demidov. His remarkable rookie campaign has sparked conversations not only about Rookie of the Year honors but also about his chances to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympics. Schaefer has shattered multiple records, including becoming the youngest player ever to score an overtime goal at 18 years and 70 days, breaking Sidney Crosby’s 2005 record.
Schaefer has also made history with a strong start featuring seven points over his first nine games, including two goals and five assists, and a six-game scoring streak—the youngest defenseman to achieve this. He ranks fifth on the Islanders in blocked shots, second in takeaways, and has logged nearly 450 minutes on ice, the most on the team by a significant margin. His contributions extend to both the penalty kill and power play, leading the team’s defensemen with 307 shot attempts. If he maintains this pace, Schaefer could reach 20 goals this season, a rare feat for defensemen, and potentially join the elite group of rookie defensemen scoring 60 points.
Meanwhile, Cale Makar continues to dominate defensively for the Avalanche. In 19 games, he has tallied six goals and 19 assists for 25 points, the highest among NHL defensemen and leading by four points over Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey. Makar holds the top spot in plus/minus rating at +17, and after posting over 90 points in each of the past two seasons, he’s on track to reach an impressive 108 points this campaign. Over the past four seasons, he has consistently scored at least 86 points, missing that mark only once due to injury. Makar leads his team in ice time with 485 minutes, and also tops Colorado in blocked shots and takeaways.
Both players have significantly contributed to their teams’ early-season success, reflected in betting markets where Schaefer is favored at -238 odds for the Calder Trophy, and Makar is favored at -233 for the Norris Trophy, signaling strong confidence they’ll clinch these honors.
Fan Take: These standout young stars represent the exciting future of hockey, showcasing skill, resilience, and leadership at an early age. Their performances not only energize their teams but also promise to elevate the competitive standard and global appeal of the NHL in the years ahead.
