Update 4/24/17: Derek Ryan has been named as one of the three finalists for the Masterton Trophy, along with Andrew Cogliano of the Anaheim Ducks and the presumed front-runner, the Ottawa Senators’ Craig Anderson. The release from the Canes is below. Our story from March, when Ryan was named as the Canes’ nominee for the trophy, follows.
Over the years, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, named in memory of the only player to die as the result of an on-ice play in NHL history, has become a comeback player of the year award, typically going to a player who has overcome tragedy or a life-altering situation to continue playing in the NHL.