Flyers rookie Shayne Gostisbehere has a real chance at becoming the first member of the team to win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. And now he’ll have a chance to bring home even more hardware at the NHL Awards in Vegas in June: he’s been named the team’s nominee for the 2016 Masterton Trophy.
The Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association made the choice. The PHWA chapter that covers each team in the league picks a nominee. The trophy is given to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
Ghost is a solid candidate for the award, but he’s unlikely to win. There’s no doubt that he’s overcome a bit so far in his young hockey career — from doubts that he was big enough or physical enough to succeed in pro hockey, to his torn ACL last year, to his dazzling play on the ice since he’s come to the NHL this season.
But simply put, there are better nominees around the league: Jaromir Jagr of the Panthers always has a shot since he’s a billion years old, Pascal Dupuis of the Penguins is an obvious potential choice too.
Congrats to Ghost on his nomination nonetheless. Maybe he’ll surprise and join Bobby Clarke, Tim Kerr and Ian Laperriere as Flyers to win the award.
