Monday Skate-Around: Bruins' Gustavsson Nominated For Prestigious Masterton Trophy For Perseverance
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins begin the week with their playoff lives hanging in the balance, but there is some good news for the Black & Gold: the Boston chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has nominated Bruins goaltender Jonas Gustavsson for the NHL's prestigious Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award, given annually to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey," is voted upon by the PHWA from a poll of nominees selected by each local chapter. Last year's winner was Minnesota Wild goalie Devin Dubnyk, who led the last-place Minnesota Wild on a second-half surge into the playoffs.
The trophy, however, is often awarded to a player who had overcome career-threatening, or even life-threatening, injuries or illnesses for themselves or a loved one, to return to the ice. Gustavsson had to leave mid-game to be hospitalized for an elevated heart rate back in January
Overall, four Bruins have won the award, third-most in the NHL. Phil Kessel won it in 2007 after winning a battle with testicular cancer. Bruins team president Cam Neely won the award in 1996 as recognition of "his valiant efforts to return to NHL action after suffering career-threatening injuries." The other Bruins to win the award are Gord Kluzak in 1990 and Charlie Simmer in 1986, both of which battled career-threatening knee injuries.
Here's what else is going on around the NHL in today's Skate-Around...
- Sometimes a team simply doesn't have enough good choices for Masterton nominees. That's why the Buffalo chapter made the baffling selection of Ryan O'Reilly, who recently crashed his car into a restaurant and fled the scene of the accident. It's like the MLB All-Star Game; every team gets one.
- Former NHL and WCHA referee Oliver "Butch" Mousseau passed away Friday at the age of 48 after hitting his head on the ice in a freak accident. Mousseau was not wearing a helmet at the time of his fall.
- Edmonton Oilers winger Nail Yakupov, the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, reportedly asked for a trade out of Edmonton and about eight teams were interested, but 'something went wrong.'
- The Carolina Hurricanes released a statement denouncing a highly discriminatory new law in North Carolina banning, among other things, transgendered people from using restrooms that "do not match the gender on their birth certificates."
- Anaheim Ducks forward Josh Manson was fined $2,486.56 by the NHL for making a throat-slashing gesture at Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri, who was slapped with a $5,000 fine for the very same gesture in February.
- Nashville Predators forward Ryan Johansen revealed in a Q&A with the Columbus Dispatch that he wishes he was still a member of the Blue Jackets, who traded him earlier in the season.
- The U.S. Men's National Team named forward Auston Matthews, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, as its first selection. Team U.S.A. competes at the International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship starting May 6.
- Former NHL All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk, who has not played in the NHL since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, plans to leave KHL team SKA St. Petersburg to join ... an expansion team in China. He must really not want to come back here.
- Last Thursday celebrated the 20-year anniversary of Mike Legg's iconic "lacrosse goal," a.k.a. one of the coolest, most-imitated goals you'll ever see. Seriously, watch that.
- The Chicago Blackhawks announced they are indefinitely suspending prospect Garret Ross, who is facing felony charges in a bizarre "revenge porn" case.
MUST-SEE VIDEO: Connor McDavid embarrasses Vincent Lecavalier with a single poke-check
Connor McDavid's offensive instincts are already among the best in the NHL, and he only needs one hand to show it. Watch him act like he's trying to block a breakout pass from the Kings' Vincent Lecavalier, only to suddenly whack the puck off Lecavalier's stick and past Jonathan Quick for his 15th goal of the season.
McDavid has 45 points in just 41 games as a rookie; he turned 19 years old in January. This is going to be fun.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
