Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: History, Montreal Canadiens Past Winners

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The Bill Masterson Trophy winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 15th, before the puck drop of Game 5 of the Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars. The Bill Masterson Trophy is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Bill Masterson is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. He was a former player with the Montreal Canadiens but left the NHL to work as an engineer. He returned to the NHL when the Minnesota North Stars made him their first contracted player.

The Montreal Canadiens have a long list of players deserving the Bill Masterson Trophy. They had the first-ever Masterson Trophy winner when Claude Provost took home the honor in 1968. Six Montreal Canadiens won the award, with Carey Price being the last in 2022.

Let's look at the Canadiens' Bill Masterson Trophy winners.

Claude Provost: 1967-68

Provost was given the inaugural Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy. He had a 15-year career, and the league said he "embodied the definition of perseverance and dedication to hockey.

Provost played with the Canadiens until the end of the 1969-70 season, winning nine Stanley Cups. Provost was a defensive minded forward for the Habs, but scored 15+ goals in nine of his 15 seasons.

Henri Richard: 1973-74

Montreal Canadiens Henri Richard / Focus On Sport/GettyImages

Henri Richard was another Hab recognized for his career achievements rather than the single season. Richard was near the end of his career when he won the award.

Richard won 11 Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, more than any player in NHL history. After winning the award in 1974, Richard played 16 more games and retired.

Serge Savard: 1978-79

Montreal Canadiens v New York Rangers / Focus On Sport/GettyImages

Savard won eight Stanley Cups over his first 11 seasons, being part of a defensive trio with Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe. For his dedication to hockey, the league awarded Savard with the Masterson Trophy after the eighth and final Stanley Cup of his career.

Saku Koivu: 2001-02

Montreal Canadien Saku Koivu / Richard Wolowicz/GettyImages

After his sixth season in the NHL, Koivu received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He missed nearly the entire 2001-02 season, making a remarkable comeback for the last few games. Habs fans fondly remember the standing ovation on home ice in the team's final regular season matchup.

Koivu helped his team make the playoffs, upsetting the top-seeded Boston Bruins in six games. The Finland native was given the Bill Masterton Trophy for his courage in returning from the illness.

Max Pacioretty: 2011-12

Former Montreal Canadien Max Pacioretty / Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

Pacioretty took a vicious hit in the 2010-11 season from Zdeno Chara, knocking him out for the remainder of the season with a concussion and fractured vertebra.

Pacioretty returned in 2011-12, and had his best season of his career to date, tallying 33 goals and 32 assists. Many questioned if Pacioretty would ever play again, but he persevered and remains in the league.

Carey Price: 2021-22

Montreal Canadien Carey Price / Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

Carey Price almost heroically carried his team to the Stanley Cup in the COVID season of 2020-21. He led the Canadiens past the Maple Leafs and Jets in the All-Canadian Division, then eliminated the Golden Knights in the conference finals. They fell to the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.

Price publicly disclosed substance abuse issues after recovering from offseason knee surgery. He returned to play five games at the end of the season, which would be the final games of his NHL career.

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