Arizona’s Clayton Keller, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang and Chicago’s Alex Stalock are the Masterton Trophy finalists for the 2022-23 season, the NHL announced Tuesday.
The Masterton Trophy is presented annually “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey,” according to the NHL.
Keller, 24, is coming off his best NHL season, setting career highs in goals (37) and assists (49). This comes after fracturing his femur on March 30, 2022, in an awkward crash into the boards during a game against San Jose. The forward had to undergo a summer of rehab in order to play again and initially questioned his ability to return to the NHL.
The Penguins’ Letang also endured health concerns, suffering a stroke in late November. It was the second stroke for the 36-year-old, having suffered his first in 2014 due to a heart condition. This time, Letang was only kept off the ice for two weeks.
Chicago’s Stalock saw his career derailed by myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle, after contracting COVID-19 in November 2020. The 31-year-old did not play in 2020-21 and was limited to a single game (with San Jose) during the 2021-22 season. After signing with Chicago, he posted a .908 save percentage this past season and a 9-15-2 record on a struggling team.
The winner will be announced as part of the 2023 NHL Awards show in Nashville on June 26.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Finalists
Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Stalock, Chicago Blackhawks