A case could be made for Olli Maatta, who returned to the ice after having a cancerous tumor removed.
Or Kris Letang, who is having a career year after a serious head injury ended last year’s season early.
Even a player like Matt Cullen, still going strong at age 39, could be a candidate for the 2016 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, given annually to the player who, the NHL says, “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Yet Pascal Dupuis, whose Penguins career ended prematurely at age 36 because of blood clotting issues, is this year’s Masterton Nominee from the Penguins, as voted by members of the Pittsburgh Hockey Writers Association.