The NHL named its three finalists for the 2015-16 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Sunday.
The annual award is given to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” as determined by the local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Recently retired Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis, Florida Panthers veteran Jaromir Jagr and New York Rangers winger Mats Zuccarello are this year’s finalists.
Dupuis has been recognized for his determination to rejoin the Penguins following almost a year away from the game due to blood clot concerns and other injuries. He retired due to health scares after playing 18 games this season, but remains with the club on a daily basis in a non-playing capacity.
Jagr’s impact both on and off the ice this season is what earned him the Panthers’ Masterton nomination. The 44-year-old was Florida’s scoring leader this year, helping the club reach a franchise-record 47 wins and 103 points this season to capture the division title. He was also a mentor for his young teammates, including Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.
Zuccarello suffered a serious head injury during last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs after being hit in the side of the head by a slapshot. Despite the scary incident, Zuccarello made a full recovery during the off-season and played in all but one of the Rangers’ games in 2015-16 to earn a career-high in games played, goals (26) and total points (61).
The winner of this year’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy will be announced during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22.