No one deserved it more.
Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Thursday, an award that is given to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
He was surprised with the award by Meredith Gaudreau, the wife of the late Johnny Gaudreau. The two families remain extremely close, with Johnny and Sean having been best friends for many years.
When Monahan signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in July, it was in large part to reunite with Gaudreau and for their kids to be able to grow up together.
"You mean everything to John," said Meredith Gaudreau in the video. "It's just really special that I could be a part of this because this one's about you."
"You persevered through one of the hardest things and you just lead by example, and this one's just celebrating your character and how good of a person you are," said Gaudreau.
"I know John is so proud of you."
Here's the emotional moment:
Johnny Gaudreaus wife, Meredith, surprised Sean Monahan with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
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As great as he was off the ice, Monahan was also a key component of Columbus' surprisingly strong season. He scored 19 goals and had 38 assists for 57 points in just 54 games. Had he played the entire season, Monahan would have been on pace for 87 points — that would have been tied with Artemi Panarin for the most points in a season in Blue Jackets history.
"It's a real big honor," said Monahan. "(There's) a lot of special names on that trophy and the meaning behind it is something I take great pride in my day-to-day life."
The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association to honor the late Bill Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited those qualities.
Masterton died in 1968 as a result of an on-ice injury.
Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andrew Fleury and Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog were also in the running for the award.
