Top 20 NHL Calder Trophy candidates for 2025-26

Oct 7, 2025, 10:30 EDTUpdated: Oct 7, 2025, 11:54 EDT

Top 20 NHL Calder Trophy candidates for 2025-26

Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

It’s going to be another good rookie of the year race, folks.

Last year’s battle was excellent. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson took home the Calder Trophy in 2024-25, dominating in the PHWA’s opinion with 165 first-place votes. It was 150 more than Calgary’s Dustin Wolf in second place, but Wolf truly kept it an interesting fight, with Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov and San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini keeping themselves involved throughout the season.

Montreal’s Ivan Demidov enters the year as the pre-season favorite. He was electric in the KHL last year, putting up numbers very few have come close to matching as a U-20 player. But the rest of this class is DEEP – as deep as you’ll find in any given year.

A few players missing from this list: Brady Martin, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Emmitt Finnie, Berkly Catton, Braeden Cootes, Sam Dickinson, Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke. All are good prospects, but there’s a good chance all could be sent back down to the AHL or to their respective junior leagues before too long. The focus today is more on the guys with a legit chance to stay the full season. For the record, of all the players listed above, I wouldn’t be surprised if MBN lasts the longest.

Knowing how the rookie battles work each season, one of the Calder finalists might be someone completely out of left field. But for now, these 20 will be interesting to watch in 2025-26:

1. Ivan Demidov, RW, 19 (Montreal Canadiens)

Habs were teased with Demidov’s short stint last season. It’s time for the real deal now. Demidov set the KHL U-20 scoring record last year with 49 points in 65 games. He did so despite his fluctuating ice time – from the odd benching to a sudden trip to the top line. But Demidov never seemed deterred, hung around and always made the most of his opportunities. The Russian winger is extremely creative, perhaps the most of any prospect in the world right now. He utilizes a stutter-step that confuses defensemen, making it hard for them to predict his next move. It’ll be interesting to see how much Demidov is used this year, but he seemed to get more comfortable as the preseason wore on last month.

2. Alexander Nikishin, LHD, 23 (Carolina Hurricanes)

Parekh might have been the popular pick at No. 2, but history has shown us that being a bit older can help in the Calder fight. That’s why Nikishin – someone who was a star in the KHL for just under half a decade – should squarely be involved in the hardware bout this season. Nikishin finally joined the Hurricanes for the playoffs last season after years of fans awaiting his arrival. He has quickly become one of the most exciting defensive prospects, and one who should get top-four time right out of the gate. I expect some growing pains as he adjusts to the speed of the NHL, but I don’t think he’ll need as long as others on this list.

3. Zeev Buium, LHD, 19 (Minnesota Wild)

Buium is projected to start the season on the top pairing, meaning we’ll see a lot from him right out of the gate. He might not have the ideal size for an NHL defender, and he did have some ups and downs in his short season-ending stint in 2024-25. But don’t get it twisted – he’ll outsmart just about anyone with the puck, and he has the skills to truly dominate any shift. Buium showed that at various points in the preseason, which is very promising. It’s easy to like him in all situations, and it won’t be long until he’s one of the best young defenders in the game.

4. Zayne Parekh, RHD, 19 (Calgary Flames)

Parekh impressed onlookers throughout the preseason, giving many a reason to believe he’ll continue to fly up Calgary’s depth chart. The highly skilled defender even received some praise from coach Ryan Huska, specifically regarding his defensive game (something some scouts were still worried about heading into the season). Parekh is still eligible to play in the OHL but has absolutely nothing to prove at this point after some mind-bending numbers in Saginaw over the past three years. Look for Parekh to ease into his playing time as the season begins, but it won’t be long until he’s playing north of 20 minutes a night. For the record, the top three defenders here are all really close, in my opinon.

5. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, 21 (St. Louis Blues)

Snuggerud had a quiet preseason, but there’s nothing to worry about. He actually impressed in his debut, building upon an excellent end to the 2024-25 campaign. Snuggerud has good overall strength, a high hockey IQ and a good shot release. He has a pro-ready game, and I think he’ll finish somewhere in the 40-45-point range with St. Louis this year. The Blues likely will miss the playoffs, but if Snuggerud can become a consistent top-six threat, they’ll be pleased.

6. Ville Koivunen, LW, 22 (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Koivunen’s first season in North America was a big success. He had 56 points in 63 AHL games, but he also had seven assists in eight NHL games with Pittsburgh. Koivunen is starting the year alongside some guy named Sidney Crosby. The Finnish winger is extremely skilled, frequently beating players in 1-on-1 situations without much issue. I liked him at the Buffalo Prospects Challenge and he received some solid reviews throughout the preseason. If you’re an underdog bettor, I wouldn’t count out Koivunen getting top-three Calder votes..

7. Sam Rinzel, RHD, 21 (Chicago Blackhawks)

Rinzel has the upper hand on Artyom Levshunov this year, ice-time-wise, which is why Rinzel gets the boost up these rankings. The 6-foot-4 defender has obvious size, but he also proved in college he can dominate with the puck. He took like a fish to water to close out the 2024-25 NHL season, and I don’t expect anything different this year. I’m not sure his offensive stylings will carry over to the NHL, but Rinzel will likely be relied on more and more as the season wears on. Since Rinzel doesn’t play a flashy game, he likely won’t get a ton of love in the Calder race, but he’s going to be a stout defender.

8. Yaroslav Askarov, G, 23 (San Jose Sharks)

If any goaltender is going to win the Calder, it’s Askarov. The multi-time AHL all-star was a beacon for the San Jose Barracuda last season and looked like a true No. 1 at times with the big club. It may take a few years for us to fully appreciate Askarov’s potential as the Sharks continue to rebuild. But with ideal size and incredible athleticism, it’s safe to call Askarov the best goaltending prospect in the game today. It’s time for Askarov to start living up to the billing – and he’ll have a perfect opportunity to prove that in San Jose. It’s hard for a goaltender to win the Calder Trophy (Wolf put up a good fight last year, though). But don’t count out Askarov.

9. Ryan Leonard, RW, 20 (Washington Capitals)

Leonard scored his first goal in the same game that Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. It was a good start, but Leonard is ready to take over the mantle as Ovi’s career winds down. Leonard has shown the ability to dominate in big games. He was instrumental in USA’s consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors in 2024 and 2025 and even took home tournament MVP honors in January. He can score, hit, intimidate and do just about everything in his power to make himself a danger to society. Leonard had some mixed results to start his NHL career, but it’s never easy to go straight from college to the NHL just before the playoffs. I expect him to figure things out by Christmas.

10. Matt Savoie, RW, 21 (Edmonton Oilers)

Savoie was a dominant producer in the WHL and carried that success into the AHL, where he recorded 19 goals and 54 points in 66 games last year. He made Bakersfield much, much more dangerous every time he touched the puck – simple as that. Next up: the NHL. Savoie has the edge over Ike Howard here because it feels like Savoie’s pro experience will give him an edge, at least to start. But I expect both of them to be chasing ice time – and, hopefully, becoming impactful players sooner rather than later.

11. Michael Misa, C, 18 (San Jose Sharks)

Misa signed his entry-level contract shortly before training camp, and then he proceeded to make some noise in his first game action. Now, there’s a chance Misa could become the team’s No. 2 center before long (assuming Will Smith stays on the wing). Taken second overall back in June, Misa was incredibly dominant in junior hockey and could have likely handled the NHL at 17 if he had been allowed. He’s smart, speedy and is equally dangerous as a shooter and a passer. Maybe he’s undervalued here; we’ll see.

12. Ike Howard, LW, 21 (Edmonton Oilers)

Howard started training camp off slowly before pushing himself into the conversation to play in Edmonton’s top six. With Leon Draisaitl expected to start with Connor McDavid, Howard could line up alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Edmonton’s second line. Howard is coming off winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top college hockey player, and he also snagged a gold medal with USA at the World Championship. It was a dream season for Howard, but the NHL is a totally different animal.

13. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, 18 (New York Islanders)

The recent No. 1 pick this low? What gives? The reality is that, as good as Schaefer is, it’s extremely difficult for an 18-year-old defender to win the Calder – especially one who missed over half of the previous season. Schaefer had nothing left to prove in the OHL, and the AHL wasn’t an option. He could have elected to go the college route, but they’re throwing him to the wolves and learning the ups and downs first-hand right away. That being said, he’s fully capable of taking on the NHL season. The future is bright for the 2025 first-overall pick, but unless he comes out flying like Hutson did a year ago, Schaefer likely won’t get many first-place votes for the Calder. And that’s OK – he’s going to be fantastic sooner rather than later.

14. Danila Yurov, C, 21 (Minnesota Wild)

Yurov finished his fifth KHL season with a modest 25 points in 46 games, but he still played well with Magnitogorsk overall. Now, he’s set for his first year in the NHL, likely slotting in somewhere on the third line. Yurov can play center and the wing, and while he’s not huge, he does have some solid muscle. He’s an excellent skater who loves to chase after pucks and win battles, and he’s no slouch around the net, either. There’s a lot to like about Yurov’s game, and I’m excited to see how high he can push himself up the lineup this year.

15. Artyom Levshunov, RHD, 19 (Chicago Blackhawks)

Levshunov has skyrocketed up to the NHL, having played for five teams since 2022. He made some serious progress in Rockford as the season wore on last year, registering 22 points in 52 AHL games, and another six assists in 18 games with the Blackhawks. I think Levshunov has more high-end upside than Rinzel, but Rinzel looks ready to take on more minutes right away. Levshunov is going to be an absolute star, but I don’t expect him to have a serious chance at the Calder Trophy this year as long as Rinzel shines like most expect him to.

16. Maxim Shabanov, RW, 24 (New York Islanders)

Shabanov was one of the top free-agent signings out of Europe this past summer, finishing 2024-25 with 67 points in 65 games. Those are great numbers in the KHL – but will he make it work in the NHL? A bit of a late-bloomer, Shabanov plays with loads of skill. He rarely loses 1-on-1 plays and can dipsy doodle with the best of them. There is expected to be a decent learning curve as he adjusts to life in North America – especially in his own zone – but he should play a ton of minutes for the Islanders this year as they work toward their rebuild.

17. Logan Mailloux, RHD, 22 (St. Louis Blues)

The Blues needed more immediate defensive help, and they shipped off Zack Bolduc to Montreal this summer to make it happen. The 22-year-old Mailloux had another strong AHL season (albeit with lower production) in Laval, and even impressed during his seven-game stint with the Habs. He’s physical, skilled and skates well, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s 6-foot-3. Mailloux will likely start the season on the third pair but should force his way into more ice time as the season wears on – maybe even on the power play.

18. Dalibor Dvorský, C, 20 (St. Louis Blues)

Dvorský had a great first year in the AHL, registering 21 goals and 45 points. He also impressed in some minor NHL action, despite not putting any points on the board. Dvorský has been great at just about every level, and looks ready to start the year in the NHL after an impressive preseason. He’s smart, tactical, skilled and can drive the play, if needed. He’s both a good shooter and a strong passer, and he can play just about anywhere in the lineup he’s asked to play.

19. Leevi Meriläinen, G, 23 (Ottawa Senators)

Meriläinen will likely need to pull off some heroics again to help the Senators make the postseason. He had a huge 12-game stretch with the Senators, posting an 8-3-1 record with a .925 save percentage and three shutouts to help fill in for Linus Ullmark. Ullmark is the No. 1 in Ottawa again, but Meriläinen is the clear No. 2 and should be capable of taking some of the burden off his Swedish counterpart. The Finn Meriläinen has been excellent at just about every level, and while his NHL experience is still quite limited, the Senators seem confident that they can rely on him. His expected lack of starts won’t help his Calder case, and he struggled in the preseason, but he’s still a good goalie. I’m a fan.

20. Arseny Gritsyuk, RW, 24 (New Jersey Devils)

Gritsyuk made a big impact during the preseason, leaving Devils fans with a lot to get excited about. The Russian winger had two goals and five points while averaging around 16 minutes a night. Gritsyuk is coming off an excellent season in the KHL, and while he may not be an offensive leader in the NHL, he should be able to make an immediate impact in the NHL. His energy and skill will be nice on the fourth line, and he is more defensively responsible than he was at this time last year back in Russia. He’s sticking around for good now.

Other notables: Oliver Moore, C (Chicago Blackhawks); Jesper Wallstedt, G (Minnesota Wild); Alex Bump, LW (Philadelphia Flyers); Berkly Catton, C (Seattle Kraken)

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