Monahan wins Masterton, surprised with trophy by Gaudreau's widow

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Thursday.

The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Monahan was surprised with the trophy by Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of the late Johnny Gaudreau.

Monahan and Gaudreau were close friends from their nine seasons together with the Calgary Flames and were set to be reunited in Columbus after Monahan signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent last summer. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died in August after being struck by an allegedly drunk driver while they rode bicycles.

"It's just really special that I could be a part of this because this one's about you," Meredith Gaudreau told Monahan after giving him the trophy. "You persevered through one of the hardest things, and you just lead by example. This one's just celebrating your character and how good of a person you are. I know John is so proud of you."

Monahan emerged as a leader for a surprisingly competitive Blue Jackets team. He tallied 19 goals and 57 points in 54 games as Columbus narrowly missed the playoffs by two points.

"Winning that Bill Masterton Trophy means a lot to me," Monahan said. "It's a real big honor. It's a lot of special names on that trophy, and the meaning behind it, it's something I take great pride in day-to-day life. Being on a team, being a father, a husband, it's a special thing."

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and former Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were the other finalists.