Breaking: Patrick Maroon and the ultimate recognition.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Edmonton Oilers winger Patrick Maroon for the Bill Masterson Trophy.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

Accordingly, Maroon (28) is having a career defining season in his fifth year in the NHL. He has 25 goals so far this season, eclipsing his previous best of 11 with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2013-14 season. His 39 points in 74 games is also a personal record for the St. Louis native.

He was acquired by the Oilers from Anaheim at the trade deadline last year for defenseman Martin Gernat and a fourth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. No doubt Edmonton management hoped a change of scenery would be good for Maroon, but hardly anyone could have expected a turn around like this!

Maroon is an intriguing mix of hard-hitting grinder and offensive threat, but he’s never been able to put together a season like this before. He has 7 points in his last five games. Only Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid has more goals (26 each) than Maroon, and he leads the Oilers in fighting majors as well.

The only thing he hasn’t done this season is get a Gordie Howe hat trick (one goal, one assist, and one fight in a single game). But Maroon did get the normal kind of hat trick against the Boston Bruins earlier in the year, in the same game he fought 6’9 Boston captain Zdeno Chara.

How can you not love this guy?

Pat Maroon the hockey player is sure great, but the human being is even better.