Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an award that recognizes “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock were also named as finalists.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote on the award. The winner will be announced during the NHL’s awards ceremony June 26 in Nashville, Tenn.
A 17-year veteran, Letang’s 2022-23 season was a challenging endeavor as he suffered a stroke in late November that sidelined him for five games. Additionally, the death of his father, Claude Fouquet, on Dec. 31 as well as an undisclosed injury prompted him to take a leave of absence to attend to family matters.
Letang, 35, previously suffered a stroke in 2014.
Despite his woes, Letang appeared in 64 games this past season and led Penguins defensemen in scoring with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) and led the team’s non-goaltenders in averaged ice time per game (24 minutes, 51 seconds).
This marks the second time Letang has been selected as a finalist (2015).
Forwards Mario Lemieux (1993) and Lowell MacDonald (1973) are the only members of the Penguins to win the award.
First given out in 1968, the trophy is named after a Minnesota North Stars forward who died that year as a result of a head injury suffered during a game.
