NHL Odds to Win Calder Trophy 2026

Matthew Schaeffer got off to a hot start in his rookie season with the Islanders, and the defenseman hasn't looked back since.

Kyle LaRusic - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Kyle LaRusic • Betting Analyst
Dec 9, 2025 • 16:09 ET • 4 min read
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at UBS Arena.
Photo By - Imagn Images. New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at UBS Arena.

The NHL season is cruising along, and Isles defenseman Matthew Schaefer is dominating the Calder Trophy odds as we head into Christmas.

There's still plenty of season left, but books are confident the D-man will hold on with a -250 price tag. 

Odds to win 2026 Calder Trophy

Player Bet99
Canadiens Matthew Schaefer -250
Canadiens Ivan Demidov +450
Rangers Beckett Sennecke +640
Wild Jesper Wallstedt +800
Capitals Yaroslav Askarov +6000

Odds as of 12-9.

Get a first bet encore up to $800 — no BET99 promo code neededGet a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

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Understanding NHL Calder odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:

  • Ivan Demidov -400

The (-) means that Demidov is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $400 to win $100. Other contenders in the Calder race might have plus (+) odds to win.

  • Alexander Nikishin +900

Here, a bettor stood to profit $900 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.


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NHL Calder Trophy trends

  • Only eight No. 1 overall picks have gone on to win the Calder Trophy.
  • Only 16 goaltenders have ever won the Calder Trophy, with Steve Mason being the last netminder to capture the award (2009).
  • In 1990, Sergei Makarov became the oldest player to win the Calder at 31 years old.

Calder Trophy history

A quick look at recent NHL Calder Trophy winners and the teams they played for.

Season Player Team
2024-25 Lane Hutson Montreal Canadiens
2023-24 Connor Bedard Chicago Blackhawks
2022-23 Matty Beniers Seattle Kraken
2021-22 Moritz Seider Detroit Red Wings
2020-21 Kirill Kaprizov Minnesota Wild
2019-20 Cale Makar Colorado Avalanche
2018-19 Elias Pettersson Vancouver Canucks
2017-18 Mathew Barzal New York islanders
2016-17 Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs
2015-16 Artemi Panarin Chicago Blackhawks
2014-15 Aaron Ekblad Florida Panthers
2013-14 Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche
2012-13 Jonathan Huberdeau Florida Panthers
2011-12 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche
2010-11 Jeff Skinner Carolina Hurricanes
2009-10 Tyler Myers Buffalo Sabres
2008-09 Steve Mason Columbus Blue Jackets
2007-08 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks
2006-07 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins
2005-06 Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals
2003-04 Andrew Raycroft Boston Bruins
2002-03 Barret Jackman St. Louis Blues
2001-02 Dany Heatley Atlanta Thrashers
2000-01 Evgeni Nabokov San Jose Sharks
1999-00 Scott Gomez New Jersey Devils

Calder Trophy Odds FAQs

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Kyle LaRusic - Covers
Betting Analyst

Kyle LaRusic joined Covers in 2020 with a Holland College diploma in Journalism and a Mount Saint Vincent Degree in Public Relations. Stints at Amherst News and the Cape Breton Post helped sharpen his skills in a newsroom setting, while working for MSVU and Dalhousie’s athletic departments landed Kyle in his comfort zone.

Kyle has been an avid bettor for over five years, starting with just one Sports Interaction account before discovering both the beauty and importance of price shopping. bet365 and Pinnacle are his go to books, but accounts at 10+ sportsbooks give him an array of options. “Rusty” will bet on anything under the sun as long as there’s value and good reasoning behind it, but NHL and NFL are his two favorite leagues to watch and wager on — especially with friends.

Kyle’s biggest tip for any bettor is simple: gamble responsibly. Only bet what you’re willing to lose and make sure to install a proper bankroll method to keep track of your ROI. If you’re still dwelling on the amount you lost the next day, it’s time to decrease your spending.

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