Demidov, Schaefer, Sennecke named finalists for Calder Memorial Trophy

Matthew Schaefer, Ivan Demidov et Beckett Sennecke

Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, New York Islanders defenceman Matthew Schaefer, and Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke are the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the league announced on Tuesday.

The Calder is given “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.”

Schaefer tied the NHL rookie record for goals by a defenceman with 23 this season for the Islanders, equalling the total Brian Leetch achieved in 1988-89 with the New York Rangers.

He added 36 assists and finished with a plus-13 rating, appearing in all 82 regular season games.

Demidov led all rookies with 43 assists and 62 points for the Canadiens.

The 20-year-old scored 19 goals, including seven on the power play, in 82 games for Montreal.

Sennecke tied Schaefer for the rookie lead in goals with 23 and also collected 37 assists for the Ducks.

Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson captured the award last season, receiving 165 first place votes to out pace Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.