Meredith Gaudreau surprises former Calgary Flames centre Sean Monahan with Bill Masterton Trophy for resilience and leadership
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) celebrates with centre Sean Monahan (23) following a game against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)
Columbus Blue Jackets centre Sean Monahan has been awarded the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Thursday.
The award honours perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey, commemorating Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died from an on-ice injury in 1968, and is voted on annually by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Monahan earned the trophy for his resilience and leadership after the tragic death of his close friend and teammate Johnny Gaudreau last August. He signed with Columbus last July to reunite with Gaudreau, with whom he played nine seasons in Calgary.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a driver charged with impaired driving while they were cycling in New Jersey on Aug. 29, 2024.
Thursday on social media, the NHL posted a video of Gaudreau's wife Meredith surprising Monahan with the trophy.
'Sean stood by my side for every tribute, every walkout and I dragged him out there to cry with me on national TV so many times,' Gaudreau said.
'But I'm excited about this one because it celebrates Sean.'
Monahan said it meant a lot to win the Masterton Trophy.
'It's a real big honour,' he said. 'There's a lot of big names on that trophy and the meaning behind it.
'It's something I take great pride in,' he added, 'being on an (NHL) team, being a father, a husband -- it's a special thing and obviously fresh now, but definitely something I'm going to be reflecting on a lot.
'John knows I don't like the spotlight,' Monahan added, 'or attention, so I feel like he's probably watching down on that moment laughing at me.'
Monahan finished the season with 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 54 games.
Other finalists included Marc-Andre Fleury of Minnesota and Gabriel Landeskog of Colorado.
With files from The Canadian Press
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