It would not have felt right if anyone other than Mats Zuccarello had earned the New York Rangers nomination for the Bill Masterson Trophy.
The trophy goes to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. One nominee from each team is selected and then the PHWA membership votes among them in postseason award balloting.
For the Rangers’ chapter, in voting conducted with three points awarded for first place, two for second and one for third, Zuccarello, who has been one of the Rangers’ leading players all season after recovering from a potentially life-altering injury during last season’s playoffs, was the clear-cut winner with 27 points.