2025-26 NHL Calder Trophy Award Odds and Predictions

NHL awards markets can create useful futures opportunities, and the Calder Trophy is always one of the first places bettors look when a rookie race starts to take shape. Right now, that market runs through Matthew Schaefer at -1000, with the board looking far more top-heavy than competitive.

That does not automatically make it a strong bet. A short-priced favorite can still be the right player and the wrong number, so the goal here is simple: figure out whether this market offers real value, a reasonable leverage play, or a clean pass.

What Is The Calder Trophy?

The Calder Trophy is the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award, given to the top first-year player in the league for that season.

If you’re betting the Calder Trophy market early, it helps to compare this futures board with the latest NHL odds and keep tracking how young players are adjusting to NHL competition. Bettors looking for more day-to-day context can also check the NHL picks and previews hub to follow injuries, lineup roles, and team form that can shape the Rookie of the Year race.

NHL Calder Trophy Odds

Here is the latest Calder Trophy odds board:

This market has shifted hard. Schaefer opened at +1300 and now sits at -1000, which tells you the race has moved from a wide board into a near-runaway favorite setup. Demidov opened as a much shorter option at +175 and has drifted to +850, while Sennecke remains in the mix at +1000 but still trails the leader by a wide margin.

From a betting perspective, that is the problem. Schaefer looks like the right favorite, but the number is tight enough to squeeze out most of the value. If you want to bet against him, Sennecke has a more interesting price-based case than most of the field, but this is also the kind of market where passing is a perfectly reasonable call.

Calder Trophy Contenders

The following NHL players are contenders to win this year’s Calder Trophy Award:

Matthew Schaefer (-1000)

Schaefer has built the strongest overall case on the board. He is a defenseman playing major minutes, handling meaningful power-play usage, and producing at a level that gives him both statistical support and strong award narrative. He had 56 points in 74 games on the current snapshot, and his role has looked more like a centerpiece than a sheltered rookie.

That is why he leads the market, and it is hard to argue with that part. The issue for bettors is the price. At -1000, the number reflects how far ahead he is in the race, but it also leaves very little room for betting value. He is the rightful favorite, just not an especially attractive futures ticket.

Schaefer’s case becomes even more interesting when you view it through the lens of broader blue-line value. If you want to compare how elite defensemen are judged across different award markets, the NHL Norris Trophy odds and predictions page is a useful companion read, especially for bettors trying to measure long-term impact beyond basic rookie production.

Ivan Demidov (+850)

Demidov entered the season with real hype and still has a strong offensive profile. He has posted 54 points in 71 games on the current snapshot, and his skill set keeps him in the conversation as one of the most dangerous first-year forwards in the league. Earlier in the year, he also had the profile of a player who could push this into a real two-man race.

The problem is that the market has already told the story. He opened at +175 and now sits at +850, which is a clear sign that he has lost ground relative to Schaefer. That still makes him a viable challenger, but not the cleanest one from a betting standpoint. He needs Schaefer to lose momentum, and that is a tough way to build a futures case.

Demidov’s upside is the kind that can quickly turn a rookie campaign into a much bigger story if the offensive production translates right away. That is why it also makes sense to compare this race with the NHL Hart Trophy odds and predictions, where readers can get a better feel for how star-level offensive value is judged across the league.

Beckett Sennecke (+1000)

Sennecke has the kind of offensive résumé that at least keeps him live in the conversation. He had 57 points in 74 games on the current snapshot, and at one point he led all rookies with 51 points in 63 games. He has earned meaningful usage and has done enough offensively to be viewed as more than just a name filling out the board.

From a bettor’s angle, this is where the market gets more interesting. He is still clearly behind Schaefer, but +1000 is a more usable number than the favorite’s price. He does not have the same hold on the race, yet he offers the best leverage play among the realistic alternatives. If someone wants to bet against the favorite, Sennecke is the cleaner route.

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Jesper Wallstedt (+15000)

Wallstedt brings a different profile to the market because he is a rookie goaltender with enough real production to at least deserve mention. He has 15 wins, four shutouts, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .912 save percentage in 31 games, which gives him a strong statistical base compared with most longshots.

The issue is not the number. The issue is the path. Goalie cases are tougher to finish in this kind of award market, and Wallstedt is still chasing a race that has been driven by Schaefer’s impact and visibility. +15000 is a big number, but it looks more inflated than actionable.

Wallstedt stands out because goaltenders are evaluated differently from forwards and defensemen, which makes his Calder path unique. The NHL Vezina Trophy odds and predictions page is a smart related read here, since it helps bettors compare how goalie value is viewed in another major NHL awards market.

Ryan Leonard (+15000)

Leonard has had a solid rookie season and enough production to stay visible on the broader board. He was tied for fourth among rookies with 39 points on the NHL rookie leaderboard snapshot, and he has shown enough impact to remain relevant in discussions around the class.

That said, this price feels more like filler than value. He is behind the main names in both production tier and market position, and there is not enough in the current setup to make him a serious betting target. He can be mentioned, but he is hard to recommend.

Leonard’s rookie appeal gets stronger if his team context gives him meaningful games and a visible role right away. Looking at the NHL conference odds and predictions can help bettors judge whether his environment is strong enough to support the kind of momentum that matters in a futures market like this.

Calder Trophy Predictions

From a betting perspective, this is not an especially strong market right now. The race has become too lopsided at the top, which makes it easy to identify the most likely winner but much harder to find a useful betting number.

Calder betting makes more sense when you compare it with the wider league futures picture. The Stanley Cup odds and predictions page is useful here because team strength, expectations, and visibility often play a role in how rookie seasons are perceived over time.

Schaefer has the best case on production, role, and overall impact, and that is why he has taken over the board. Demidov still has a path, but the drift from +175 to +850 tells you that path has narrowed. Sennecke is the more interesting alternative because his offensive case is credible and his +1000 price gives bettors a little more leverage if they want to fade the favorite.

The cleanest conclusion is that Schaefer is the rightful favorite, but not at a number that demands action. Sennecke is the best price-based alternative if you want to take a small shot against the market leader. Still, this is one of those futures boards where passing is a legitimate and probably responsible position.

Bet: Beckett Sennecke (+1000)

Calder Trophy Winners

If you want to extend this handicap beyond one award, it also makes sense to review the guide to betting on NHL awards futures. That gives readers a cleaner way to connect the Calder race with the rest of the league’s major futures markets.

The following is a list of the most recent Calder Trophy Award winners: