Beckett Sennecke has been named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
The National Hockey League announced that the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) has selected Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy for the 2025-26 season. He is joined by Matthew Schaefer and Beckett Sennecke as the award’s other finalists.
Demidov’s Rookie Season
Demidov led all NHL rookies in assists and points this season with 43 and 62, respectively. His 20 power play points (7G, 13A) were tops among League freshmen, while his four game-winning goals were tied for second-most among rookies.
The Canadiens’ forward was named NHL Rookie of the Month for December after putting up 14 points (4G, 10A) in 15 games that month. In January, Demidov became the first Canadiens rookie to record 10 career multi-point outings through 50 games in a season since Gilbert Dionne. Demidov registered 14 multi-point games in total in 2025-26.
About the Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is presented annually “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.” The trophy was first awarded in 1936-37 by NHL President Frank Calder, who purchased a trophy each year to be given permanently to the League’s outstanding rookie. Following his death in 1943, the award was named in Calder’s memory.
Voted by the members of the PHWA, this is the second straight year that a Canadiens player has led NHL rookies in points, and the second straight season in which a Canadiens player has been nominated for the Calder Trophy after Lane Hutson achieved the feat in 2024-25. Hutson went on to win the Calder last year.
Demidov was the Canadiens’ fifth-overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft.