Trophy Thursday: Bill Masterton Memorial

The legacy of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy stretches from 1968 inaugural winner Claude Provost, a career Montreal Canadiens right wing whose teams won nine Stanley Cups in 15 seasons, to last season's winner Robin Lehner, a 2019 finalist for the NHL's top goalie award while playing for the New York Islanders.
Both men, highly respected by teammates and fans alike--Lehner has emerged as a vocal and effective mental health advocate--fit the bill of the trophy's purpose of awarding it based on "perseverance and dedication to hockey."

The award's legacy equally connects to the Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die from injuries suffered during a game. Masterton was a star player at the University of Denver in the early 1960s, leading his team to back-to-back NCAA championships and being named most valuable player of the 1961 collegiate tournament. He played a bit for the Montreal Canadiens organization, not able to crack that dynasty's roster despite starring in both the now defunct Eastern Professional Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He was the AHL Cleveland Barons leading scorer during the 1962-63 season.

Facing the hard facts of a loaded Canadiens team at the center position, Masterton opted to complete a master's degree at his alma mater University of Denver, later accepting a job with the Minneapolis=based Honeywell Corporation to work on the Apollo space program. He sat out an entire season of hockey, submitting to regain his amateur status, which was granted. Masterton played two seasons for the local St. Paul Steers and captained the U.S. national team during 1967 while he and his wife, Carol, also adopted two young children during that timespan.
All impressive stuff-and noticed by Minnesota North Stars management. The North Stars were one of six franchises slated to join the NHL for the 1967-68 season (sometimes called the "Next Six" to pair with the "Original Six" teams in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago and Detroit). Masterton was the first player signed by the North Stars, giving him a second chance at his dream of playing in the NHL. He made the Minnesota roster and even scored the first-ever goal in team history.
Tragically, the dream was cut short in January 1968 during Masterton's rookie season. During the first period of a home game, Masterton was skating full speed up the ice when two defenders incidentally converged on him at the same time, resulting in the North Stars fan favorite to fall backwards on the ice, hitting his bare head. Scant players wore helmets back then-Chicago star Stan Mikita had just made the decidedly un-macho move to wear a helmet just a month earlier that season.
All observers contend the collision represented a "clean hit." Carol Masterton bore no ill will, saying publicly the play was a "fluke" and could have happened to anyone. Medical experts contend Masterton may well have lost consciousness even before he fell to the ice. Thirty hours later, with his wife and parents bedside, Masterton passed away without waking from coma.

The injury and death shook the NHL, stirring more debate about making it mandatory for players to wear helmets. That controversy required another 11 years to for helmet regulation in the NHL. More immediate to honor his memory, the NHL created the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, its first nameplate to be awarded to Provost six months later in 1968. The North Stars retired his jersey number 19 and when that franchise moved to Texas as the Dallas Stars, the jersey followed.
Since the memorial trophy was first awarded following the 1967-68 season. Players from the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have won five times; the Boston Bruins are next with four. The award often goes to players who have overcome great adversities to continue their NHL careers.

Here's a list of all Masterton winners:

2019: Robin Lehner, New York Islanders
2018: Brian Boyle , New Jersey Devils
2017: Craig Anderson , Ottawa Senators
2016: Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers
2015: Devan Dubnyk , Minnesota Wild
2014: Dominic Moore, New York Rangers
2013: Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild
2012: Max Pacioretty , Montreal Canadiens
2011: Ian Laperriere, Philadelphia Flyers
2010: Jose Theodore, Washington Capitals
2009: Steve Sullivan, Nashville Predators
2008: Jason Blake, Toronto Maple Leafs
2007: Phil Kessel , Boston Bruins
2006: Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
2004: Bryan Berard, Chicago Blackhawks
2003: Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
2002: Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens
2001: Adam Graves, New York Rangers
2000: Ken Daneyko, New Jersey Devils
1999: John Cullen, Tampa Bay Lightning
1998: Jamie McLennan, St. Louis Blues
1997: Tony Granato, San Jose Sharks
1996: Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames
1995: Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo Sabres
1994: Cam Neely, Boston Bruins
1993: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
1992: Mark Fitzpatrick, New York Islanders
1991: Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings
1990: Gord Kluzak, Boston Bruins
1989: Tim Kerr, Philadelphia Flyers
1988: Bob Bourne, Los Angeles Kings
1987: Doug Jarvis, Hartford Whalers
1986: Charlie Simmer, Boston Bruins
1985: Anders Hedberg, New York Rangers
1984: Brad Park, Detroit Red Wings
1983: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
1982: Glenn Resch, Colorado Rockies
1981: Blake Dunlop, St. Louis Blues
1980: Al MacAdam, Minnesota North Stars
1979: Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens
1978: Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings
1977: Ed Westfall, New York Islanders
1976: Rod Gilbert, New York Rangers
1975: Don Luce, Buffalo Sabres
1974: Henri Richard, Montreal Canadiens
1973: Lowell MacDonald, Pittsburgh Penguins
1972: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
1971: Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers
1970: Pit Martin, Chicago Blackhawks
1969: Ted Hampson, Oakland Seals
1968: Claude Provost, Montreal Canadiens