Leafs’ Ennis rewarded for comeback 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 Toronto Maple Leafs insider Kristen Shilton of TSN managed to break the news of the Leafs’ selection early. 

Receiving the first major NHL Award nomination of his entire career is 29 year old forward Tyler Ennis.

For the unaware, the Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. When Ennis signed a one-year deal with the Leafs for a league minimum salary last offseason, he was unsure of how things would turn out. But his perseverance and dedication have been rewarded. Ennis is having a  renaissance season with 12 goals in just 47 games and looks in line to receive a new contract this upcoming offseason.

“He was going to put the work in and voluntarily bring himself here in the summer with our performance staff and strength and conditioning staff to get ready,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said of Ennis. “He told us he knew he had a lot at stake moving forward and we thought we could provide him with a great opportunity to get rolling again.”

Ennis took the opportunity in front of him and ran with it, despite facing difficult odds. Congrats, Tyler!