Sean Monahan gets emotional after being presented Bill Masterton Trophy by Meredith Gaudreau
(Screenshots: @NHL/ X)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Sean Monahan won the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication
  • Johnny Gaudreau’s widow Meredith surprised Monahan with the award at his home
  • Watch the emotional video presentation and reaction below

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Sean Monahan has won the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, and the way he found out will have you reaching for tissues.

Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Monahan’s late friend and teammate Johnny Gaudreau, surprised the Blue Jackets center with the award at his home outside Toronto. The NHL captured the whole emotional moment on video.

You can watch Meredith surprise him with the trophy here:

Video


“It’s just really special that I could be a part of this because this one’s about you,” Meredith told Monahan after presenting the trophy. “You persevered through one of the hardest things, and you just lead by example.”

The Masterton Trophy honors the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. And boy, did Monahan earn it this year.

After signing with Columbus to reunite with his buddy Gaudreau, tragedy struck. Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed in August after being struck by a vehicle while cycling. It happened just before training camp started.

Monahan wasn’t even sure he could play. He told The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline he couldn’t bring himself to go to the rink at first. But with support from Meredith and his teammates, he found his way back.

BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 28: A detail view of a helmet sticker decal to honor the Gaudreau brothers, Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, on the helmet of Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (23) during a National Hockey League game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins on December 28, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

The 30-year-old center put up 57 points in 54 games, his first point-per-game season since 2018-19. He anchored Columbus’s top line as they made a late playoff push, falling just short.

“Just the way Monny has persevered through really, really hard times. It’s been inspiring to me and to the whole group,” said Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner.

Zach Werenski echoed those sentiments. “Just been so impressed and learned so much from watching how he has gone through and handled this season.”

Monahan beat out Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog and Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury for the award. The Professional Hockey Writers Association does the voting.

“Winning that Bill Masterton Trophy means a lot to me,” Monahan said. “It’s a real big honor. It’s a lot of special names on that trophy.”

The way they got him dressed up for the surprise was pretty slick too. They told him they were taking family photos. Classic move.

This beats any stuffy awards ceremony by a mile. Just two people who’ve been through hell supporting each other. That’s what hockey’s all about.