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- What? NHL Calder Trophy 2026
- Where? Odds available at betting sites
- When? Awarded at the NHL Awards Show in June/July 2026
Prospect showcases are wrapped up, training camps are underway, and the league’s up-and-coming players are battling to secure full-time roster spots.
For a select few, though, the upcoming 2025-26 season offers more than just a shot at cracking the lineup—it’s the beginning of what could be star-level careers. Their journey starts with chasing the Calder Trophy, the ultimate prize for the NHL’s top rookie.
With opening night less than two weeks away, it won’t be long before we find out which fresh faces can rise to the challenge. Until then, the best sportsbooks have released their Calder Trophy odds so here’s an early breakdown of some names to watch as potential contenders this season.
Below are the Calder Trophy odds from three of the best NHL betting online sites.
| Calder Trophy 2026 |  |  |  |
| Ivan Demidov | +170 | +170 | +180 |
| Alexander Nikishin | +1000 | +1000 | +2000 |
| Zayne Parekh | +1800 | +1800 | +1500 |
| Ryan Leonard | +1600 | +1600 | +1500 |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Zeev Buium | +1200 | +1200 | +1400 |
| Yaroslav Askarov | +2200 | +2200 | +2500 |
| Michael Misa | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens (+180)
Montreal could very well produce the Calder Trophy winner for the second year in a row. Lane Hutson set the bar high in 2024-25, piling up 66 points as a first-year defenseman, and now all eyes shift to 19-year-old Ivan Demidov. After getting a short run of games late last season—plus some valuable playoff reps against Washington—the highly touted forward is poised for his first full NHL campaign. There’s little mystery surrounding his upside. Demidov has already flashed elite skill, showcasing creativity and confidence even against top-tier opposition, and he enters 2025-26 looking like the kind of difference-maker who could quickly become a focal point in Montreal’s lineup.
Ivan Demidov is the clear favorite to scoop the 2026 Calder Trophy.
Check out our Bovada sportsbook review for much more information about this betting site.
Zayne Parekh, Calgary Flames (+1800)
Calgary’s optimism heading into the new campaign is easy to understand once you consider Zayne Parekh’s track record in junior. Over the last two years in Saginaw, the dynamic defenseman piled up 66 goals and 203 points, becoming the first blueliner in OHL history to post consecutive 30-goal seasons. He even offered a quick preview of what’s to come in his NHL debut, finding the net with a slick redirection. Now 19, Parekh appears set for his first full run with the Flames in 2025-26. With openings on Calgary’s back end and the potential to see power-play minutes alongside names like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, the rookie’s offensive instincts give him every opportunity to deliver an impressive stat line right out of the gate.
Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues (+1400)
Jimmy Snuggerud wasted little time making an impact after leaving the University of Minnesota and signing on with the St. Louis Blues late last year. His final college season was outstanding—24 goals and 51 points in just 40 contests—and he carried that scoring touch into the NHL, notching his first career goal before adding a couple more in the postseason. The upcoming 2025-26 season now brings bigger expectations. At 21, Snuggerud is projected to hold down a spot in the Blues’ top-six, with the possibility of skating alongside Robert Thomas on the top unit. If he continues generating shots and finishing chances at the pace he did in college, he has the tools to become a significant offensive contributor for head coach Jim Montgomery’s group.
Alexander Nikishin, Carolina Hurricanes (+2000)
Alexander Nikishin enters 2025-26 in a spot similar to other top rookies, with a real chance to carve out a major role on the Carolina Hurricanes’ blue line. At 23, the defenseman already owns plenty of high-level experience from six seasons in the KHL, and his first taste of NHL action came under intense pressure. Thrown into Carolina’s second-round series against Washington last spring, he held his own and quickly earned Rod Brind’Amour’s trust, logging three more playoff appearances as the Hurricanes advanced to the conference finals. With a strong reputation as a dependable two-way player overseas, Nikishin now gets a chance to prove himself over a full schedule. Surrounded by one of the league’s most competitive rosters, he has the platform to make an immediate impact in his first NHL campaign.
Zeev Buium, Minnesota Wild (+1400)
Minnesota also has a promising rookie on the back end in Zeev Buium, who got his first NHL action during last spring’s opening-round clash with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 19-year-old looked composed despite the pressure, which isn’t surprising given his résumé. In just the last two years, Buium has captured an NCAA championship, back-to-back World Junior golds with Team USA, a World Championship title, and piled up plenty of individual accolades along the way. Heading into 2025-26, he’s expected to take on meaningful minutes for a Wild team with playoff ambitions. With his ability to drive offense from the blue line, Buium has the tools to post the kind of rookie numbers that often grab Calder Trophy attention.
Ryan Leonard, Washington Capitals (+1600)
Few rookies could ask for a better role model than Washington’s Ryan Leonard, who gets to learn under captain Alex Ovechkin. Leonard doesn’t boast the same generational scoring talent, but his game carries that same edge and relentless style that has long defined Ovechkin’s career. The former Hobey Baker finalist showed flashes of it in his nine-game trial last season, when he netted his first NHL goal. Though it came on an empty net, the play highlighted his determination — winning a puck off the draw in his own end, powering past a defender, and finishing the rush himself. In 2025-26, Leonard may not see top-line minutes like some of the other Calder hopefuls, but his upside is evident, and spending a full campaign alongside one of the greatest to ever do it should accelerate his development.
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