Avalanche center Carl Soderberg is the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Colorado chapter winner and national nominee for the 2018 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which goes to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Soderberg, who is legally blind in one eye and didn’t begin his NHL career until age 27, was a healthy scratch on opening night Oct. 5 for the rebuilding Avalanche. He was coming off a wretched season in which he produced just six goals and 14 points in 80 games and was not part of the team’s longterm plans.