The NHL’s 30 teams are starting to roll out their nominees for the 2012 Bill Masterton Trophy, and so far, the choices have leaned toward star power.
The Montreal Canadiens turned to Max Pacioretty’s inspiring return from injury (not to mention his 30 goals) and the Philadelphia Flyers decided to tab fresh-from-KHL-exile Jaromir Jagr for their choice.
The trophy is awarded to the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
(Nothing says “perseverance” quite like skating alongside arguably the best young talent in the NHL in Claude Giroux, right? Just kidding.)
Beloved Flyers tough guy Ian Laperriere took home the 2011 trophy despite missing the entire 2010-11 season, so Jagr represents about as different a story as you could get from year-to-year. Whether the future Hall-of-Famer wins it or not, his season has been a smash success for the Flyers.