I am going to take a breath from playoff coverage for a moment and leave my second round series preview until tomorrow, and today talk a bit of hardware.

Craig Anderson, to nobody's surprise I am sure, was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverence and dedication to hockey. He was named along with Andrew Cogliano of the Ducks and Derek Ryan of the Hurricanes.

When you look at the respective stories, Anderson looks to be the shoo-in for what is essentially a sentimantal award. Cogliano was nominated based on having never missed a game in his NHL career, and now has the fourth longest ironman streak in NHL history. Ryan persevered through hockey, undrafted out of junior, played 4 years in the CIS and then four more in Europe before signing with Carolina in 2015. He became the oldest player in Hurricanes history to make his NHL debut, and scored his first NHL goal this season at the age of 29.

And we all know about the emotional roller coaster Anderson went on this season, taking leave, coming back in after the Andrew Hammond injury to get a key win when his ailing wife told him the team needs him more than she did at the moment.

So it should be Anderson winning the award, and it likely will be the first of two straight Masterton Awards for the Senators, because a couple of days after Anderson being Ottawa's nominee was announced, next year's probably winner made an unlikely comeback. Clarke MacArthur probably has the inside track on next year's award already, so much in fact that they might as well award it now too.

MacArthur missed almost two full years with concussions, had all but been written off, but didn't like the look of retirement and did everything he could to get back on the ice late in the season. He still isn't quite the MacArthur pre-concussion, but he is getting close and has scored a couple of huge goals already this playoff season, including the overtime winner that clinched Ottawa's spot in the second round.

Oh yeah, and since it happened in the middle of the series, Erik Karlsson also got named as a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the league's best defenseman. It is the fourth nomination for Karlsson, who has won the award twice (and he should already have 3 if not for the Drew Doughty career achievement award last season). Brent Burns and Victor Hedman are the other finalists for the award and Burns had the inside track for most of the season. However, Karlsson made a late push and was at the top of mind for at least a few voters who hadn't already made up their minds, and his play down the stretch (as well as seeing what a gong-show the Senators were without him for a few games) might have done enough to at least make what was a Burns coronation at least a little tighter.

Karlsson also might have an outside shot at being nominated for the Hart Trophy for league MVP, as he was one of about 5 legitimate contenders in most discussions. A defenseman rarely wins the award (only 1 - Chris Pronger - since Bobby Orr won 3 straight in 1970-71-72) and it is probably Connor McDavid's award to lose, but to be nominated would cap a special season for Karlsson, who changed his game for the better under Guy Boucher while still leading the team offensively as well.

Will get back to the playoffs tomorrow, but I just needed a chance to catch my breath between rounds!

Join the Discussion: » 29 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye, and good luck!

» Can Colin White fill the #2C role as early as next year?

» Boucher staying put, at least for now

» Boucher Day

» Sens fall to #4 in draft lottery