The Walking Wounded: NHL Stars Hit The Ground Running After Long Injuries
Brady Martin Could Entice The Canadiens
A team can never have too many centers. Remember, this player won't be ready to try and make it in the NHL for 3-5 years and usually on the longer side of that. Some of the players you see today won't be there when he's ready. That's the way the draft works for the most part.
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Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau's widow, presented Monahan with the trophy in a surprise visit to his offseason home near Toronto. The NHL shared a moving video on social media of her surprising Monahan with the award, and both had tears flowing. Advertisement "I had no idea," Monahan said. "I was kind of waiting around all dressed up for a while because I was told we were doing family photos, and my mom was here and was going to help us with the little guy (1-year old Leo) and to get set up. It definitely caught me off guard, so it was just presented in a special way, and they did a great job to surprise me.' Monahan is the sixth person in Blue Jackets history to win one of the NHL's major awards. The other five are: Rick Nash — 2003-04 Maurice 'Rocket Richard Trophy (NHL goal leader), 2008-09 NHL Foundation Award Steve Mason — 2008-09 Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie) Sergei Bobrovsky — 2012-13 and 2016-17 Vezina Trophy (top goalie) Nick Foligno — 2016-17 Mark Messier Leadership Award, 2016-17 King Clancy Memorial Trophy (leadership, community contributions) John Tortorella — 2016-17 Jack Adams Trophy (coach of the year). Center Sean Monahan had 19 goals, 38 assists and 57 points in 54 games with the Blue Jackets this season. Foligno (2018-19) and Kevin Dineen (2000-01, 2001-02) preceded Monahan as Blue Jackets finalists for the Masterton Trophy. Runners-up to Monahan for the 2024-25 Masterton are Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who's retiring after a distinguished career, and Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who returned in the playoffs after a three-year absence due to a knee injury. Advertisement Monahan also went through injury difficulties prior to signing with the Blue Jackets, playing just 90 games combined for the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens between 2021 and 2023 due to multiple health challenges that included two hip surgeries, a groin surgery and a broken foot. A wrist surgery kept him out for two-plus months with the Blue Jackets, while at the same time grieving Gaudreau. "It's definitely special to get the award," Monahan said. "I've said it before. I don't need the recognition. Everybody's going through different things in their life, but I worked hard to get where I am, and I went through ups and downs. And to be in Columbus and be healthy and able to play the game I love is something I don't take for granted.' Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@ and @ Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan voted Masterton Trophy winner
