Pittsburgh Penguins veteran defenseman Kris Letang was named the 2023 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Winner.
The Masterton Trophy has been presented annually since 1968 to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.” Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price won the award in 2022.
Bill Masterton appeared in 38 games with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1967–68 NHL season before suffering a severe internal brain injury after hitting his head on the ice during a game against the Oakland Seals on January 13, 1968. He succumbed to his injuries two days later and remains the only player to have died as a direct result of an injury suffered during an NHL game. The NHL introduced the Masterton Trophy after the 1967–68 season, with Montreal Canadiens forward Claude Provost being named its first winner.
Letang, 36, suffered his second stroke earlier this season and also missed time away from the ice due to his father’s passing. Despite one setback after another, Letang notched 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points in 64 games. The Montreal, Quebec product is still the Penguins’ best defenseman, leading that position in goals, points, and minutes — while also serving as a mentor to Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a fellow French Canadian who lives with Letang’s family in Pittsburgh and presented Letang with the Masterton Trophy.
Letang has been on a wild ride throughout his career. He was selected in the third round (No. 62) in the 2005 NHL Draft after being named to the QMJHL and CHL All-Rookie Team. During the 2006-07 season, Letang won the QMJHL’s Kevin Lowe Trophy as the QMJHL Best Defensive Defenseman, the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the Defenseman of the Year and was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star after registering 52 points in 40 games with Val-d’Or.
He won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2008-09 and lead all defensemen in goals throughout the playoffs. He added more hardware to his cabinet when he won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2014-15 and 2016-17. He has been nominated to five NHL All-Star games.
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