The NHL announced its finalists for the Masterton Trophy today. Whittled down from 32, just 3 players remain: Minnesota's Marc-Andre Fleury, Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog, and Sean Monahan of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Masterton Trophy is given annually to the player who best displays the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. I can think of no better candidate than Monahan this season, and he's joined by two other guys who equally deserve the recognition.
Sean used his first real crack at NHL free agency to ink a 4-year contract with the Blue Jackets, to play alongside his best friend and former teammate Johnny Gaudreau. It seemed like destiny that the two would come back together at some point, and they were both excited for a fresh new CBJ season.
Tragedy prevented them from rekindling their magic. On August 29th, Johnny Hockey was struck and killed alongside his brother Matthew while riding their bicycles home from their sister's wedding rehearsal.
Would any of us have blamed Sean Monahan for taking the year off?
Instead of stepping away from the game; Sean decided that the best way to honor his beloved friend and teammate, would be to come out and play some of the best hockey of his life. In 54 games with the Jackets this season, Sean scored 19 goals and 57 points, while posting a gaudy +19 rating and winning 52.6% of his faceoffs.
All of that while becoming a mentor and a trusted leader in the dressing room of a team that he just joined three months before the season started. His season defines what the Masterton Trophy is all about, making him an obvious front runner for the award.
Three very worthy finalists...
Sean Monahan should be honored to have his name on this list. I won't predict who will win it, or who I think should win it. This is the one trophy that shouldn't become a competition or a rallying point for the fanbase. All three of these gentlemen are very deserving finalists.
Marc-Andre Fleury will retire after this season as a first ballot Hall of Famer. He just finished a dazzling 21 year career in the NHL, sitting second all-time in wins (575). He won three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and defined sportsmanship throughout his entire career by being one of the league's most approachable, light-hearted stars.
Gabriel Landeskog is also a very worthwhile candidate. After missing three full years of hockey due to what was believed to be a career-ending knee injury, he made his return to the Colorado Avalanche just two weeks ago. That's dedication and perseverance on another level...
Instead of pining for our guy to win it, lets just take a moment to appreciate everything Sean Monahan did for this team this season. His presence helped them get through an unthinkable tragedy, and his play on the ice set the tone for the best season this team has had in several years. I'm happy the NHL is recognizing him as a contender for this award, with two other very special players.