Cardiac Cane’s Picks For 2013-2014 NHL Awards
By Brett Finger
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The award given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Brett’s Pick: Manny Malhotra (Carolina Hurricanes)
I don’t care if I sound like a homer here, but Manny Malhotra has overcome so many obstacles to get to where he is today. After suffering a devastating eye injury in March of 2011, it looked like he would never get back to the NHL level. In fact, Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis even told him he shouldn’t return.
After fighting his way through the minor leagues, Manny Malhotra has finally found his way back at the highest level of the sport he loves. Not only was Malhotra a great example and leader for the Carolina Hurricanes, he even made a positive impact on the ice for his team. He was one of the league’s top faceoff men with a faceoff percentage of 59.4.
Runner Ups: Josh Harding (Minnesota Wild), Dominic Moore (New York Rangers)
Wes’s Pick: Manny Malhotra (Carolina Hurricanes)
Maybe I’m biased, but Malhotra was told by his own GM that he shouldn’t play hockey again, but went ahead and did it anyways. He played in the minors just to compete for a spot in the NHL and signed a cheap contract just to play the sport he loves. And from all accounts, he seems like a great guy.
Runner Ups: Dominic Moore (New York Rangers), Rich Peverley (Dallas Stars)