Marc-André Fleury of the Minnesota Wild, Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Sean Monahan of the Columbus Blue Jackets were announced on Friday as finalists for the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.”
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The popular Fleury was celebrated throughout his 22nd and final season. Despite ranking second all-time in the NHL in victories, he continued to mentor the Wild’s Filip Gustavsson as his backup. He received multiple send-offs on the road — from emotional ones in Pittsburgh, where he began and spent the bulk of his career, and in Montreal, near his hometown, but also in spots such as Chicago, where he played not even a full season.
The showering of adulation Fleury received on his way out of the NHL also included testimonials to the respect he garnered from former teammates, fans and even longtime rivals. Alex Ovechkin, who faced Fleury in four playoff series, made sure his Washington teammates saluted Fleury after the Capitals’ last game against the Wild.
Landeskog did not play in a game for the third consecutive regular season. He underwent four surgeries to an injured right knee, including cartilage replacement in May 2023. It’s a procedure from which no NHL player had ever returned — until Landeskog did during the first round of the playoffs.
However, the Masterton, like all NHL Awards, is based on the regular season. Landeskog, Colorado’s longtime captain, continued to fill that role off the ice while rehabbing his knee for a potential return. His dedication to the Avalanche and the grueling process of rebuilding his injured knee served as inspiration in Colorado and to injured players throughout hockey.
Monahan signed with the Blue Jackets for one reason — to play with his best friend, Johnny Gaudreau. But the death of Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, last August shocked the hockey community.
Monahan, following the direction of Gaudreau’s widow during his eulogy, approached the season with energy and purpose. A 12-year veteran, Monahan’s 19 goals and 57 points in 54 games fueled one of the NHL’s most productive lines and sparked an unforgettable season in Columbus, as the Blue Jackets surprisingly remained in playoff contention until the season’s final days.
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The Masterton Trophy honors the late Bill Masterton, the only NHL player to die from an on-ice injury. It is the only award voted on by the entirety of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association; every team has a player nominated by that team’s PHWA chapter.
The NHL unveiled finalists for three other NHL awards on Friday: Selke (best defensive forward), Jack Adams (coach of the year) and Lady Byng (sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct). Earlier this week, the league revealed finalists for the Vezina (top goaltender), Norris (best defenseman) and Hart (league MVP) trophies, along with the Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player).
(Photo of Marc-André Fleury: Stephen R. Sylvanie / Imagn Images)
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