Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan received the Bill Masterton Trophy in an emotional surprise from Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Johnny Gaudreau.
The award goes “to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey,” and the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted for Monahan as the person who best displayed those qualities this year.
Johnny Gaudreau was Monahan’s teammate and close friend before he and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau were killed while riding bicycles in August 2024 when a car struck them. Johnny was 31, while Matthew was 29. It was a difficult season for Monahan, the Blue Jackets, the Gaudreau family and the entire hockey community.
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Meredith Gaudreau travelled to Toronto to visit the Monahan home and delivered the trophy to their front door. She communicated with Monahan’s wife, Brittany, to trick him into thinking that she had scheduled family photos to be taken. Therefore, Monahan wouldn’t be confused with cameras in their home.
After Meredith was welcomed in, she and Monahan shared an emotional moment.
“Sean, you mean everything to John,” Meredith said to him. “It’s just really special that I could be a part of this because this one is about you.
“You persevered through one of the hardest things, and you just lead by example. This one’s for celebrating your character and how good of a person you are.”
Sean Monahan holds Johnny Gaudreau Jr. alongside Meredith Gaudreau as a banner is raised in honor of Johnny Gaudreau before the Blue Jackets’ home-opener on Oct. 15, 2024. (Samantha Madar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Monahan’s perseverance and leadership touched everyone, including Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner.
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“Just the way Monny has persevered through really, really hard times. It’s been inspiring to me and to the whole group,” Jenner told The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline in April. “The way he’s handled himself, just stepping in here under those circumstances. He’s been a leader in the room and a leader on the ice. He’s a true pro. Everyone can learn from him.”
The two other finalists were Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has played his final season in the NHL at the age of 40, and Colorado Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog, who made a dramatic return to the NHL after suffering a knee injury that kept him out of hockey for nearly three years.
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