The National Hockey League presented the Bill Masterton Trophy to Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price on Friday.
Posted at 7:58 p.m.
Updated at 9:31 p.m.
The trophy is awarded annually to the player who has been the finest example of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication during the season.
Price got the better of New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara and Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes.
After sitting out for several months recovering from a knee injury and participating in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program, the 34-year-old goaltender has played five games in 2022.
” It is special. I am grateful to receive this trophy considering all the great players who have also won it,” Price said minutes after his victory was announced.
Chara meanwhile became the eighth player in league history to play a 24e career season and the 45-year-old broke the record for most games played by a defenseman.
For his part, Hayes showed courage by playing despite the tragic death of his brother, former player Jimmy Hayes. He was also the victim of a blood infection, in addition to having surgery three times. He still managed to play 48 games with the Flyers.
A look back at a rollercoaster season
Last summer, he carried his team to the Stanley Cup final. Number 31 had knee surgery shortly after this crazy epic. The schedule first established for his recovery suggested a return at the start of the season, in October. However, nothing happened as planned. With days to go into the campaign, Price entered the NHL’s Player Assistance Program for substance abuse.
After coming out of it a few weeks later, he resumed training with the goal of getting back into full fitness. Two regressions, however, slowed his rehabilitation, and it was not until mid-April that he finally played a match. He had four starts in eight days, resulting in four losses, and he was placed on rest for a few days. He finally got the green light and was given the 700e start of his career against the Florida Panthers.
“This trophy is special because of the circumstances. When I thought I was ready to come back, it was postponed. […] I am grateful for all the support I have received this season, otherwise I would not be here today,” he added.
There are still four seasons to go on the heavy contract that the goalkeeper commands. Period during which the organization will have to pay him 31 million dollars.
Price’s status is still uncertain ahead of the next campaign. Kent Hughes explained a few days ago that he hoped to be fixed on the state of health of his goalkeeper before the opening of the free agent market on July 13.
Asked about it, Price said he had nothing new to announce: “We’ll find out more this summer. I am currently preparing to train. I don’t know what my form will look like before the end of the summer. I will do everything I can to play next year. »
Another reward
This isn’t the first trophy Price has received since joining the NHL.
He won the Vézina Trophy, awarded to the goaltender par excellence of the season, in 2014-2015, in addition to being a finalist two years later for the same honor.
In 2015, he became one of the few goalkeepers to win the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player to his team. The same year, his peers also presented him with the Ted-Lindsay Trophy, which crowned the player of the year following a vote by members of the NHL Players’ Association.