Clayton Keller, Kris Letang, and Alex Stalock voted 2023 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy finalists

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
Clayton Keller, Kris Letang, and Alex Stalock voted 2023 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy finalists

Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock have been voted the finalists for the 2023 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the National Hockey League announced Tuesday.

The Masterton Trophy has been presented annually since 1968 to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price won the award in 2022.

Bill Masterton appeared in 38 games with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1967–68 NHL season before suffering a severe internal brain injury after hitting his head on the iceduring a game against the Oakland Seals on January 13, 1968.

The 29-year-old Masterton succumbed to his injuries two days later and remains the only player to have died as a direct result of an injury suffered during an NHL game. The NHL introduced the Masterton Trophy after the 1967–68 season, with Montreal Canadiens forward Claude Provost being named its first winner.

Each of the 32 local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted its nominees for the Masterton Trophy in April. From there, PHWA members submitted ballots made up of players from the pool of 32 to select two finalists and a winner.

Here’s how the Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Chicago PHWA chapters described the perseverance displayed over the last season by their nominees:

ARIZONA — CLAYTON KELLER: Clayton Keller could have focused his entire offseason on rehab. When he broke his right femur into two clean pieces after crashing into the boards on March 30, 2022, most analysts — internal and external — figured he would miss the start of the season. But this summer wasn’t just about getting healthy; it was about getting better. On his own dime, Keller hired a battery of specialists to help with everything from movement and mental state to on-ice strategy. Now he’s threatening to break Keith Tkachuk’s single-season Coyotes franchise points record, and he has blossomed into a bona fide NHL superstar.

PITTSBURGH — KRIS LETANG: The Penguins’ nominee for a fourth time, Letang’s 17-year career has been one setback after another. His best friend, Luc Bourdon, died in a motorcycle accident during Letang’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final (2008). Letang, a lifetime sufferer of debilitating migraine, had a stroke (2015) that led to the diagnosis of a small hole in his heart. He and his wife lost a child to a miscarriage (2016). A neck injury forced him to miss the Penguins’ Cup run (2017). He also has missed games on three occasions because of a concussion. But even with all of that, this season has been especially trying for Letang. He missed time because of a second stroke and the death of his father. Still, Letang remains the Penguins’ best defenseman — leading that position in goals, points, and minutes — while also serving as a mentor to Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a fellow French Canadian who lives with Letang’s family in Pittsburgh. Always a deserving nominee, Letang would be a worthy winner of the Masterton Trophy.

CHICAGO — ALEX STALOCK: The Masterton shouldn’t just be a comeback player of the year award, but Alex Stalock’s dedication and perseverance in the face of the unknown — a diagnosis of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) following a bout with Covid-19 that allowed him to play just one NHL game over the 2021 and 2022-23 seasons — can’t be understated. And the gregarious goalie’s popularity and respect leaguewide despite being a journeyman/tweener throughout his career underscores his high level of sportsmanship. That he’s played so well (and so entertainingly) behind such a terrible team despite a concussion and ocular dysfunction (separate injuries) only boosts his case.

The winner of the 2023 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy will be announced on June 26 at the NHL Awards in Nashville.

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