Crawford rewarded for difficult season, earns nomination for major NHL award

Throughout the day today the Professional Hockey Writers Association will be revealing all 31 nominees for the 2018-19 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, but Chicago Blackhawks insider Mark Lazerus managed to break the news of the Hawks’ selection early. 

Receiving the first major NHL Award nomination of his entire career is Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford.

For the unaware, the Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Suffice it to say that everything Crawford has gone through in the past year and a half shows his incredible dedication to his sport and his teammates.

Crawford missed 47 games last season after suffering a concussion in midseason. He spent the offseason recovering and was able to play early in the 2018-19 season, before being shelved with another concussion in December, 2018. He was 14-2 when he went down with injury the second time. He has worked his way back into the lineup after another lengthy recovery process and has gone 7-4-1 since he made his return a month ago.

Bryan Berard (2003-04) and Pit Martin (1969-70) are the only two Blackhawks players to ever win the award. The Masterton winner will be announced with the other NHL awards in June.