The NHL announced Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan as the 2024-25 winner of its Masterton Trophy on Thursday. After joining a new team last summer, he faced an unthinkable tragedy and persevered in Columbus.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the player who demonstrates perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Other finalists for the award this year included Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Any of the three would have been deserving winners, but Monahan was chosen as the most deserving recipient this year. After signing a 5-year, $27.5 million dollar contract to come to Columbus, he had to immediately step in and help guide a young team through the tragic loss of his own best friend, Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau was the main reason Sean chose to come to Columbus. He wanted to play with his friend and former line-mate again, but as tragedy would have it, he never got the chance. Johnny and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bicycles home on August 29th.
Instead of rejuvenating their on-ice magic together, Monahan was left to join a new team, in a new and unfamiliar city; without Gaudreau around. Had he chosen to take some time away from the game, or not put his full effort into hockey; I don't think there's anyone that would have blamed him. Everyone needs time to grieve, and I can't imagine how this all must have felt to him.
He was not going to let that grief define him. Rather than taking time away to mourn the loss, Monahan chose to honor his beloved friend by taking his game to another level. He immediately became a leader in the Blue Jackets dressing room, centering the top line and quietly having one of the most productive seasons by a centerman in franchise history.
Despite being limited to 54 games due to a wrist injury that required surgery, he finished fourth on the team in scoring with 57 points. He scored 19 goals and carried a +19 rating - third best on the club; while winning 52.6% of his faceoffs.
The fact that he did this all through not only the tragedy he faced, but also a serious mid-season injury, is nothing short of inspiring. His season embodied the spirit of the Masterton Trophy. He is a very deserving winner of this award. I know that Johnny is proud, and smiling down on him today.
Meredith Gaudreau presenting the award was a beautiful touch.
The NHL chose to announce its major award winners in a different way this season. They are looking for viral social media moments, surprising player with the awards when they aren't expecting them. In this instance, they nailed it by having the late Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith presenting Sean Monahan with the Masterton Trophy at his home.
There aren't enough words to describe it, so I'll just use one: beautiful. Congratulations to Sean Monahan on being recognized with this award.