Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal has been named one of three finalists for the 2018 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award, decided by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. is given annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. It is named for the only player in NHL history to die because of injuries suffered in a game.
The other finalists, announced Saturday, are forward Brian Boyle of the New Jersey Devils and goaltender Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers.
Staal was nominated by the Carolina chapter of the PHWA after a season in which he and his wife, Heather, lost their infant daughter, Hannah, because of a terminal birth defect.