At the NHL award’s ceremony last night in Nashville, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was selected as this year’s recipient of the NHL’s Bill Masterson Award. The award is given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey”. Letang suffered a second stroke last November, then suffered a broken foot in December. He also missed time following the death of his father in January.
Letang is the first Penguins player to win the Masterson since Mario Lemieux in 1993.
Bill Masterson is the only player ever to die as the result of direct injury during a game.
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP for the third time.