This season, the competition for the Calder Trophy (best rookie) will be very intense.
Thanks to Matthew Schaefer's stellar start to the season, many fans were soon saying the 18-year-old defender would win the trophy with ease.
Of course, at this stage of the season, anything can happen, and while what Schaefer is doing at 18 (not just his offensive output) is incredible, Ivan Demidov hasn't had his last word yet.
In the last 13 games between the two rookies, Demidov has 13 points while Schaefer has just five. Demidov now leads the rookie rankings (32), and Schaefer (24) is now third behind Beckett Senneke (29).
Senneke really shouldn't be overlooked, but let's just say the Habs prospect came along at the right time. He just needs to keep up the pace.
Just a few weeks ago, many were already presenting the Calder Trophy to defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
And I agreed that he was the most worthy at that time.
But the season continues, and the rigors of the NHL seem to be picking up a bit of momentum… pic.twitter.com/A99KmIzBP7
– Marc-Olivier Beaudoin (@MOBeaudoin1) December 29, 2025
As Marc-Olivier Beaudoin mentioned above, Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt is also in the running. He has an impressive 11-2-2 record, a .931 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average. This is a staggering statistic for a 23-year-old goalkeeper.
Like last season, it will be a race between two strikers, a defender and a goalkeeper.
However, Matthew Schaefer will have to get back to his early-season pace if he is to have any hope of winning the Calder Trophy. As for Demidov, if he keeps up his pace (19 points in his last 20 games), he has a good chance of remaining the favorite.
I say favorite because he's first in the rookie standings, but looking at Calder Cup betting on Mize-aux-GesSchaefer remains the favorite (odds 1.6). Demidov is in second place with a coefficient of 3.5, and Senneke has 4.75.
What's even more interesting is that when you look at the Wild's goalie rating (who has phenomenal stats for a 23-year-old), the Swedish goalie is rated 13.
Let's forget about the odds for now and focus on the quality of play these young players will bring.
The race for Calder will certainly be very interesting for the rest of the season. Let's see who can do their best and finish in first place.
After a while
– Well, well.
Michael Hage and Gavin McKenna are rivals in the NHL off the ice.
Hage evened the score 1-1 last night with a triple-overtime win.
“I feel pretty good about my game.”
– Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) December 29, 2025
On the other hand, unless Montembeault proves he's back in the game, it will be difficult for the Quebecers to force the Habs to keep him at the top. He will have to give his all against the Panthers.
Best case scenario, Monty finds his game, Dobs splits the games with him, and we send Fowler back to cook.
It was fun to see Fowler and all, he'll be our number one going forward, but for his development it would be better if he just played a lot of games in the AHL. https://t.co/STmeQ4UkaL
– HFTV (@HFTVSports) December 29, 2025
“It must be stress.”
Nick Suzuki today on trying to make Team Canada
Olympic line-up:
“I was nervous and there was definitely some anxiety about it. When you don't play your best game, you feel like you could have left the team. You play a good game, you feel like you made it… pic.twitter.com/h9wQvJYnzd
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 29, 2025
– This is not what we expected, despite all the talent of the club.
The Habs are 2-4 in shootouts this season. pic.twitter.com/bEHWBdWogw
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 29, 2025
– It’s a pity for the Hurricanes.
Petr Kotchetkov will miss the rest of the season following surgery on a lower-body injury, the Canes have announced. pic.twitter.com/sNzsbXKhu3
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 29, 2025
