Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan Wins the 2025 Bill Masterton Trophy!

This past season, Sean Monahan was a role model for hockey fans young and old. He'd signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets to come to play with former teammate and best friend, Johnny Gaudreau. No one knew the heartbreak that would occur in August as both Johnny and Mathieu Gaudreau, brothers, would be killed in a senseless drunk driving accident while riding their bikes. Sean Monahan took the ice with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the first home game on October 15th, walking with his best friend's wife, Meradeth Gaudreau, and their two kids, Noa and Johnny Jr. as the team honored Johnny Gaufreau's NHL Legacy cut short. Sean would continue to be by his best friend's side as the team continued to honor Johnny and the family throughout the 2024-25 NHL Season. 

In addition to persevering through the loss of his best friend, Sean Monahan's sportsmanship is shown brightly on the ice in games and inside the locker room as a veteran leader. Sean had just 20 penalty minutes in his 54 games played. But, I feel what highlights his impact more is when Sean went out of the lineup with an injury in January, which later required surgery on his wrist, Adam Fanilli stepped up to fill the role of the absent center. On multiple occasions, Adam credited his success in Sean's absence to what he'd learned from Sean during the season up to the point of his injury. In his rookie season, Adam Fantilli finished with a 12-15-27 after appearing in 48 games; an injury cutting his season short. He finished with a -21 +/-. This season, he played all 82 games of the regular season, finished 31-23-54, and had a +4 +/-. Adam found the next level to his game, and Sean was a big part of that. 

Aside from perseverance and sportsmanship, the final piece of the definition of a Bill Masterton winner is the dedication to the sport of hockey. I think this is best shown by the wrist injury early in 2025. Sean missed eight weeks of the regular season, and when he returned, you could tell how happy he was to be back with his team on the ice. In his first game back on March 25th, Sean would have a 0-2-2 night. He would finish the 2024-25 NHL Season with a 19-38-57 record in 54 games, his best point record since the 2018-19 season in Calgary with best friend, Johnny Gaudreau, where he had a 34-48-82 over 78 games.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit biased and a huge fan of Sean Monahan. His 2024-25 only strengthened my love and belief in him. Although against some stiff competition for this award, I believe the NHL picked the right winner, and that's coming from a fan of Marc-Andre Fleury and Gabrial Landeskog. Each of these three men had every right to be nominated, and there's a reason each one made it to the final three, but Sean Monahan wasn't sunsetting a legendary career like Fleury or returning from a potentially career-ending injury. No, Monahan had to overcome the loss of a dear friend and teammate, an injury resulting in surgery and showed up looking like he hadn't stopped playing for two months. It was a collection of perseverance, love of hockey, and sportsmanship that singled out one player among three great ones. 

Sean, I know you will never see this, but thank you for making this season a little bit easier. I had tickets for opening night before tragedy struck; I wanted to be there the night Johnny and you reunited on the ice. Instead, I watched you raise a banner with Johnny's family and play in his honor with the Jackets all season long. I watched you not hold back your grief, and in turn, I didn't either. I know from watching you with the press and the video and pictures of Merideth Gaudreau presenting you with the Bill Masterton Trophy today that you aren't one for the spotlight, but I really hope you realize how much you helped a small-market NHL Team this season both on and off the ice. Your perseverance, sportsmanship, and love of hockey got you this honor, but simply being your genuine Sean Monahan self has made you a fan-favorite player in Columbus. I am so happy and proud of you, and it was an honor to write this post all about you! You didn't just make Johnny proud, you made an entire fan base proud, and you're just one season in!

Congratulations #23! 

GO CBJ! 







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