NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- All three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy this year are deserving of the honor.
The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually "to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” and all three finalists exemplified those values over the last year.
There's Coyotes forward Clayon Keller, who suffered a fractured femur in March 2022 and underwent six months of rehab in order to be ready for the 2022-23 season. It proved to be a career year for the 24-year-old Keller, who tied Keith Tkachuk for the Coyotes' team single-season point record with 37 goals and 49 assists in 82 games.
Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock had a long road back to the NHL after developing myocarditis as a result of contracting COVID-19 during the 2019-20 season. After playing in just one NHL game over the next two seasons, the 35-year-old Stalock returned to the NHL with Chicago this season and played 27 games. He dealt with concussions and battled through oculomotor dysfunction, a vision problem that affects the central nervous system.
It seems as if i's Kris Letang's award to lose, though.
Letang suffered the second stroke of his career in November and was back in the Penguins' lineup less than two weeks later. Over the next few weeks he suffered a lower-body injury that caused him to be sidelined for nearly a month. It was during that time that Letang lost his father, Claude Fouquet.
Despite all the adversity, Letang still recorded the 10th-highest average ice time per game (24:51) in the league this season at 35 (now 36) years old, the 17th season of his career. He scored 12 goals and 29 assists in 62 games.
Letang wasn't at the league's media day in Nashville on Sunday prior to Monday's NHL Awards. His flight out of Montreal was delayed and he missed his connecting flight, so he got into Nashville too late to participate in the interviews. A number of his fellow finalists who attended the media day spoke about the year Letang had and how it inspired players across the league.
Keller, who was just eight years old when Letang made his NHL debut, said that it was personally pretty cool for him to be nominated for the award alongside someone like Letang. But now as one of Letang's peers, he can also appreciate what Letang had to work through this season.
"That's very impressive, coming back from that and everything that he had to deal with," Keller told me on Sunday. "He's an unbelievable player and someone that I've watched since I was a little kid. It's cool to be up for the award with him and Stalock as well."
Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who is a finalist for the King Clancy Trophy this year for leadership qualities and humanitarian contributions in the community, almost had to shake his head a little when reflecting on what it was like to watch Letang from afar this season.
"It's incredible that he was able to go through some scares the way he did," Nurse said. "Not only health wise, but to get yourself to a point where you feel comfortable and coming back and playing. It takes a lot to go in that room and want to get back as fast as possible and play for your teammates. As a fellow player in the league, it's just kind of incredible to see. It's very inspiring."
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, the defending Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defensemen and a finalist again this year, said that it was "so cool" to see Letang be a finalist for the Masterton Trophy this year.
"He went through so much this year," Makar told me. "We never want anybody to go through something like that. But he showed so much perseverance this year, and it's a pretty cool story to see. Hopefully he's all good now."
Everything Letang went through off the ice this year has in a way overshadowed his high level of play and ability to still log top minutes in his mid-30s, something that alone could be worthy of a Masterton Trophy on some teams. Letang has always had an absurdly high level of physical fitness, and that's continued as he's gotten older. That's something that a young player like the 24-year-old Makar can draw inspiration from too, especially after seeing it up close for himself.
"I mean, at his age? He's still pretty young, it seems," Makar said. "I did a camp with him a couple of summers ago, and he just works really hard. It was fun to watch him on the ice. He was a guy I looked up to quite a bit as I was coming through as a kid and stuff like that. I really enjoy watching him. So it's awesome to see that he's back at full health."
Letang's 2022-23 season was an incredible display of perseverance and dedication to hockey. That's true regardless of whose name gets announced as the winner of the Masterton Trophy on Monday evening, and Letang's peers recognize that.
MORE ON THE NHL AWARDS
Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
When: Monday, 8 p.m. Eastern
TV: TNT (U.S.), Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Canada)
Country music star Dierks Bentley hosts the awards this year. TNT analysts Paul Bissonnette, Liam McHugh and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman will provide live commentary from the stage along with special guests. Dierks Bentley's son Knox Bentley, who plays youth hockey for the Nashville Junior Predators, will be a special correspondent.
Musical guests include Brett Kissel, MacKenzie Porter and Alana Springsteen.
Presenters for awards this year include include Hockey Hall of Famers Willie O'Ree and Mark Messier; former Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne; country music artists Jessie James Decker, LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion), Darius Rucker, Jelly Roll and Trisha Yearwood; two-time Olympic medalist Sarah Nurse; Predators GM David Poile; comedian Nate Bargatze; WWE's Sheamus; and broadcasters David Amber, Caroline Cameron and Anson Carter.
The finalists for the awards other than the Masterton Trophy are as follows:
Hart Trophy - Given annually to the NHL player voted most valuable to his team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Connor McDavid, Oilers
David Pastrnak, Bruins
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
James Norris Memorial Trophy - Given annually to the best defenseman in the NHL as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Adam Fox, Rangers
Erik Karlsson, Sharks
Cale Makar, Avalanche
Vezina Trophy - Given annually to the goalie voted the best at his position by NHL general managers.
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets
Ilya Sorokin, Islanders
Linus Ullmark, Bruins
Ted Lindsay Award - Given annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association.
Erik Karlsson, Sharks
Connor McDavid, Oilers
David Pastrnak, Bruins
Calder Memorial Trophy - Given annually to the best rookie in the NHL as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Matty Beniers, Kraken
Owen Power, Sabres
Stuart Skinner, Oilers
Jack Adams Award - Given annually to the coach in the NHL who has "contributed the most to his team's success" as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
Dave Hakstol, Kraken
Jim Montgomery, Bruins
Lindy Ruff, Devils
Frank J. Selke Trophy - Given annually to the forward voted best to excel in the defensive aspects of the game as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Nico Hischier, Devils
Mitchell Marner, Maple Leafs
Lady Byng Trophy - Given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Jack Hughes, Devils
Anze Kopitar, Kings
Brayden Point, Lightning
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award - Presented annually since 2009-10 to the general manager who best excelled at his role during the regular season. It is voted on by the League's GMs and a panel of NHL executives and print and broadcast media after the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jim Nill, Stars
Don Sweeney, Bruins
Bill Zito, Panthers
King Clancy Memorial Trophy - Given annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. The winner is chosen by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
Mikael Backlund, Flames
Anders Lee, Islanders
Darnell Nurse, Oilers
Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award - Given "to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season." Suggestions for nominees are solicited from fans, clubs and NHL personnel, but the winner is selected by Messier alone. No finalists have been announced.
