Masterton Nominees

[bidds55]

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one player in competition.

The trophy is named in honour of the late Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died on January 15, 1968, after sustaining an injury during a hockey game.

Obviously, I'm rooting for Latendresse to win it, but I have to admit, if Jose Theodore doesn't get recognized for coming back, and playing well after the absolute horror his family has gone through, there is something wrong with the people voting.

Here are the nominees that have been announced so far:

Anaheim: Teemu Selanne
Atlanta: Jim Slater
Boston: Mark Recchi
Buffalo:
Calgary: Craig Conroy
Carolina: Rod Brind’Amour
Chicago: Brent Sopel
Colorado: Matt Hendricks
Columbus: Jared Boll
Dallas:
Detroit: Tomas Holmstrom
Edmonton:
Florida: Bryan Allen
Los Angeles: Brad Richardson
Minnesota: Guillaume Latendresse
Montreal: Jaroslav Halak
Nashville: Joel Ward
New Jersey: Patrik Elias
NY Islanders:
NY Rangers: Chris Drury
Ottawa: Matt Carkner
Philadelphia: Mike Leighton
Phoenix: Vernon Fiddler
Pittsburgh: Bill Guerin
San Jose: Jed Ortmeyer
St. Louis: Erik Johnson
Tampa Bay: Kurtis Foster
Toronto: Jonas Gustavsson
Vancouver: Henrik Sedin
Washington: Jose Theodore

 

[jernst2]

Some good candidates there I like ...

Selanne Older guy over comes broken finger and the broken face to get goal #600
Theodore bounces back from family bs and just poor play to get 30+ wins
Latendresse gets out of Montreal and becomes what he was hyped up to be
Gustavsson overcomes 2 heart surgerys as an nhl rookie in TO and actually shows promise of being an nhl goalie

 

[sprague11]

Gustavsson's a good pick.

 

[bidds55]

Gustavsson's a good pick.

I think it will be either Gustavsson because of the heart issues, or Theodore because of the way he's persevered after losing his young son. Both of these guys have come through difficult situations, and shown impressive character in the process.

 

[canucksfreak19]

I'd say either Gustavsson, or Foster. And I'd lean towards Foster for coming back from the catastrophic broken femur injury he suffered in 2008.

 

[justinanika]

I would vote Matt Carkner.

1. Drafter 58th overall by Montreal in 1999
2. Traded around the minor leagues for years
3. 2005-06 Played 1 NHL game
4. Didnt play another NHL until 2008-09
5. After nearly 10 years in the minors, only having 2 GP 1 assist in 2009-10 Carkner makes the NHL.
6. At nearly 30 years old and having only ever played 2 NHL games, he could easilly have said time to retire, but instead he stuck with it worked hard, and is now signed to his first ever 1 way contract.

 

[drkicker]

I would vote Matt Carkner.

1. Drafter 58th overall by Montreal in 1999
2. Traded around the minor leagues for years
3. 2005-06 Played 1 NHL game
4. Didnt play another NHL until 2008-09
5. After nearly 10 years in the minors, only having 2 GP 1 assist in 2009-10 Carkner makes the NHL.
6. At nearly 30 years old and having only ever played 2 NHL games, he could easilly have said time to retire, but instead he stuck with it worked hard, and is now signed to his first ever 1 way contract.

Now thats perseverance and dedication to the game.I doubt everyone voting know this do.

Selanne or Modano if not

 

[frankiefives]

I would vote Matt Carkner.

1. Drafter 58th overall by Montreal in 1999
2. Traded around the minor leagues for years
3. 2005-06 Played 1 NHL game
4. Didnt play another NHL until 2008-09
5. After nearly 10 years in the minors, only having 2 GP 1 assist in 2009-10 Carkner makes the NHL.
6. At nearly 30 years old and having only ever played 2 NHL games, he could easilly have said time to retire, but instead he stuck with it worked hard, and is now signed to his first ever 1 way contract.

I'd love to see it happen. He deserves it. I just think he's too "obscure" a player to win it. Theodore may take it

 

[samiaa]

Anaheim: Teemu Selanne

That one is kinda weird... Teemu has allready won this once and by the rules he cannot win it again.

From Anaheim Saku Koivu and Jason Blake also have won it allready.

 

[bidds55]

Carkner's story is definitely a great one. And I have to agree that by the definition of why the trophy is awarded, he should be a front runner, but I really doubt those voting outside of Ottawa will be familiar with his story.

 

[hockeykid87]

I think it will be either Gustavsson because of the heart issues, or Theodore because of the way he's persevered after losing his young son. Both of these guys have come through difficult situations, and shown impressive character in the process.

I wouldn't give it to Theodore.

"sorry about your son...here's this trophy"

My vote goes to Erik Johnson, misses an entire (important) season, and comes back to score 40 points. Pretty impressive