{"id":80491,"date":"2020-07-16T15:12:27","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T19:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=80491"},"modified":"2020-07-16T17:45:40","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T21:45:40","slug":"2020-masterton-trophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/07\/16\/2020-masterton-trophy\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Announces 2020 Masterton Trophy Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHL has released the three finalists for the 2020 <\/span>Bill Masterton<\/a><\/strong> Memorial Trophy for the player that most exemplifies sportsmanship; perseverance; and dedication to hockey. This award is voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The finalists for 2020 are <\/span>Dallas Stars\u2019<\/span><\/a> <\/b>Stephen Johns<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Philadelphia Flyers\u2019<\/span><\/a> <\/b>Oskar Lindblom<\/a><\/b>, and <\/span>Ottawa Senators\u2019<\/span><\/a> <\/b>Bobby Ryan<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

2020 Masterton Trophy Finalists Announced<\/span><\/h2>\n

The NHL awards the Masterton Trophy to commemorate the legacy of the late Bill Masterton. Masterton is only NHL player to die of injuries inflicted during a game to date. He played for the Minnesota North Stars, which later relocated to become the <\/span>Dallas Stars<\/span><\/a>. As a result of Masterton\u2019s death, the merits of wearing helmets \u2014 which few players did at the time \u2014 became a larger conversation among the hockey community. Traditionally, the Masterton Trophy is awarded to players who have returned after experiencing a career- or life-threatening injury or illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last season, the league awarded\u00a0<\/span>Robin Lehner<\/a><\/b> with the Masterton Trophy after leading the <\/span>New York Islanders<\/span><\/a> to six shutouts and second in the Metropolitan Division. Earlier that season, he revealed his history with addiction and mental health issues in an article for <\/span>The Athletic.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Stephen Johns<\/h3>\n

Johns\u2019 2018 season was cut short due to concussion symptoms. During training camp that year, he began experiencing post-traumatic headaches. As a result, he missed twenty-two months of competition, the entire 2018-19 season as well as 47 games in the 2019-20 season. In an interview with<\/span> The Athletic<\/span><\/a>, Johns spoke about how he had suicidal thoughts while dealing with his symptoms. When he made his return to the <\/span>Dallas Stars<\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/a> lineup, he tallied 17 games this season, scoring two goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Stars will face the <\/span>St. Louis Blues,<\/span><\/a> Colorado Avalanche,<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>Vegas Golden Knights<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the round-robin Stanley Cup Qualifiers slated to begin in August.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oskar Lindblom<\/h3>\n

Lindblom\u2019s bone cancer diagnosis was extremely publicized as #OskarStrong trended nationally. Before his Ewing\u2019s sarcoma diagnosis, the forward scored 18 points in 30 games, tying for first on the Flyers. In July, Lindblom completed radiation treatment, ringing the ceremonial bell in Philidelphia\u2019s Abramson Cancer Center to celebrate the conclusion of his treatment. While undergoing chemotherapy, he attended numerous Flyers games to support his team.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fight. Inspire. Overcome. Celebrate. <\/p>\n

Ring that bell, @oskarlindblom<\/a>!@PennMedicine<\/a> #OskarStrong<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RM1PCxHnfY<\/a><\/p>\n

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 2, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n