Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Description: First awarded in 1967-68, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is presented annually “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

Voting: Local chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submit nominations for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.

History: The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was presented by the NHL Writers’ Association in 1968 to commemorate the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited to a high degree the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and who died on Jan. 15, 1968, as a result of an on-ice injury.

Bill Masterton Memorial Scholarship Fund: A $2,500 grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Memorial Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the trophy winner.

2025-26 Winner: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog won the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Landeskog missed three full regular seasons with knee issues after playing through injury during the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run. He had four major procedures done, including knee cartilage replacement surgery in May 2023. Landeskog became the first player ever to return to the NHL after having that procedure done when he rejoined the Avalanche during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. If his comeback wasn’t remarkable enough, his first full season back included broken ribs after crashing into the net in January. “I don’t know if there’s a mode, but if you can go on NHL26 and build the captain, you just copy Gabe Landeskog,” Avalanche forward Parker Kelly told Corey Masisak in the Denver Post. “That’s what you’re going to build. He has it all, man. Just feel super lucky to play with him and super happy for him to get back in the lineup, do as well as he’s done this year, making an impact every night.” The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche went 45‑7‑8 when Landeskog was in the lineup and 10‑9‑3 when he was not.