Calder Trophy Odds 2026: Demidov the Front-Runner to Start Season

The Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov is the clear Calder Trophy odds favorite, with the 19-year-old trading well ahead of those chasing.
Calder Trophy Odds & Favorites 2026: Which Rookies are Among Calder Favorites?
Pictured: Ivan Demidov plays the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Photo by David Kirouac via Imagn Images

Ivan Demidov has been the Calder Trophy odds favorite since the odds opened after the NHL draft. With the season in full swing, it's time to see whether the 19-year-old prodigy can live up to the lofty expectations in Montreal. 

He is trading way ahead of several key contenders, including the Minnesota Wild's Zeev Buium and the St. Louis Blues' Jimmy Snuggerud. I highlighted the best Calder Trophy bet as part of my NHL picks.

🏆 Calder Trophy odds 2026

The Calder Trophy odds are updated in real time. 

🏒 Calder Trophy 2026 prediction & best bet

🔥 Ivan Demidov (+180)

Demidov, whom I backed in my Calder Trophy best bets following the NHL draft, is the obvious early front-runner. He was proficient during his time in the KHL, leading St. Petersburg with 49 points (19 goals and 30 assists) in 65 games despite being a teenager. 

He made an immediate splash in the NHL, too, scoring and assisting in his debut against the Chicago Blackhawks. I know, I know, it was only the Blackhawks. Even so, notching two points in your debut as a teenager is an admirable feat regardless of who the opponent is. 

Demidov has two additional advantages: Mainly, he's playing on a quick, energetic, and youthful Canadiens team that looks to be coming of age.

Most of their influential youngsters have already persevered through teething pains from their first few years in the league. They've matured and can impart that wisdom on Demidov while leading by example. 

He's also bound to get ice time galore, both at even strength and on the power play. His Calder Trophy odds at BetMGM (+180) represent enough value to pull the trigger. If he starts hot, those odds will shorten like the daylight entering a winter in the far north. 


🔢 Calder Trophy opening odds

Odds via BetMGM

  • Ivan Demidov: +190
  • Alexander Nikishin: +900
  • Zayne Parekh: +1200
  • Ryan Leonard : +1200
  • Jimmy Snuggerud: +1400
  • Zeev Buium: +2000
  • Yaroslav Askarov: +2000
  • Michael Misa: +2200
  • Ville Koivunen: +2500
  • Gabriel Perreault : +2500
  • Bradly Nadeau: +2500
  • Matthew Savoie: +3000
  • Sam Dickinson: +5000
  • Rutger McGroarty: +5000
  • Jonathan Lekkerimaki: +5000
  • Easton Cowan: +5000
  • Axel Sandin-Pellikka: +5000

Calder Trophy odds history

Year Player Position Team Preseason Odds
2024-25 Lane Hutson D Montreal Canadiens  +1000
2023-24 Connor Bedard C Chicago Blackhawks -135
2022-23 Matty Beniers C Seattle Kraken +400
2021-22 Moritz Seider D Detroit Red Wings +1200
2020-21 Kirill Kaprizov LW Minnesota Wild +400
2019-20 Cale Makar D Colorado Avalanche +400
2018-19 Elias Pettersson C Vancouver Canucks +240
2017-18 Mathew Barzal C New York Islanders +1800
2016-17 Auston Matthews C Toronto Maple Leafs -130
2015-16 Artemi Panarin LW Chicago Blackhawks +2200
2014-15 Aaron Ekblad D Florida Panthers +700
2013-14 Nathan MacKinnon C Colorado Avalanche N/A

Calder Trophy FAQ

Who is the Calder Trophy odds favorite? 

Ivan Demidov is the +180 favorite at BetMGM. Those odds represent a 35.71% implied probability.

Who won last year's Calder Trophy?

The Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson won last year's Calder Trophy after closing as the prohibitive -1600 favorite. His Calder Trophy odds represented an implied win probability of 94.12%, according to our odds calculator

When will the Calder Trophy be decided?

Votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association must be filed before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. Last year's Calder Trophy was announced on June 11. 

How many No. 1 draft picks have won the Calder Trophy?

Twelve No. 1 draft picks have won the Calder Trophy, including Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, Mario Lemieux, Nathan MacKinnon, Patrick Kane, Alexander Ovechkin, Aaron Ekblad, Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Dale Hawerchuk, Bobby Smith, and Bryan Berard. 

When did a goaltender last win the Calder Trophy?

Steve Mason was the last goaltender to win the Calder Trophy. He secured the honor with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008-09. 

How many goaltenders have won the Calder Trophy?

Sixteen goaltenders have won the Calder Trophy but only three since 2000 (Mason, Andrew Raycroft, Evgeni Nabokov). 

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