Sean Monahan Nominated for 2025 Bill Masterton Trophy

I remember last summer when Sean Monahan announced he'd be coming to play NHL hockey in Columbus for the Blue Jackets. The idea of seeing Johnny Gaudreau play with him again, but here in Columbus, gave me chills, and I made sure my mom and I had tickets for opening night in October. Sadly, the game I imagined in my head never came to fruition. On August 29th, Johnny and his brother, Mathieu, were killed in a car accident. The hockey world stopped, and two organizations, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames, along with the NHL around them, began to mourn the loss of an NHL player and his brother lost too soon. At the center of this, standing with the Gaudreau Family in Nationwide Arena as a memorial banner went up on opening night of the Columbus Blue Jackets season, was Sean Monahan, holding Johnny Gaudreau's son, Johnny Jr.  The game would begin shortly after, with the first 00:13 of the game clock ticking off without a Left Wing, Johnny Gaudreau's position, present on the ice. The game would continue as scheduled against the Florida Panthers, and at 11:22, Sean Monahan would score goal two of his NHL Season. Right after, he'd turn, pointing up to the Johnny Gaudreau banner that he watched rise into the rafters of Nationwide Arena less than an hour before, and it's a moment I'll never forget. 

The Bill Masterton Trophy, which Sean Monahan is nominated for in 2025, has many elements for nomination: 

1) Perserverance. After losing one of his closest friends and having wrist surgery in January 2025, Sean Monahan has still had one of his best seasons point-wise in years. He currently sits at 18-32-50 with six games to play in the 2024-25 NHL Season. To come close to his current total, you'd have to go back to the 2019-20 NHL Season, where he finished with a 22-26-48. To further my point, his total in 2019-20 was over seventy games, whereas his total currently is 2 more points and over just forty-nine. 

2) Sportsmanship. Sean Monahan has only eighteen penalty minutes this season over forty-nine games. In the absence of players due to injury, Sean has stepped up as a leader, wearing the 'A' as an Alternate Captain and leading this team with the veteran leadership years in the league taught him. In the game where he suffered his wrist injury, which later required surgery, Adam Fantilli stepped into his skates on the first line, giving credit to the fallen Monahan for his success in the role so quickly. His leadership, mentorship, and sportsmanship have been of great value to this team in his first season here. 

3) Dedication to Hockey. After seasons of lower numbers in the league, Sean Monahan found himself a home in Columbus, playing for the Blue Jackets, and his numbers this season rival his best from early in his career. Further, since returning March 24th after over two months out of the game due to wrist surgery, Sean has posted 4-5-9 over his past eight games. Watching him, you'd think he was never gone. In addition, the praise younger players on the Columbus Blue Jackets credit him with is something special to watch, no doubt. 

I look forward to seeing if Sean Monahan walks away with the Bill Masterton trophy later this year. I understand why the league honored him with a nomination and a chance to win the recognition. I know the Columbus Blue Jackets and fans are proud of him on and off the ice; I know I am. 

Congratulations, Sean Monahan.     

   







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