Zdeno Chara’s future in the NHL is unclear, but if 2021-22 was the 45-year-old’s last ride, he could go out with one last piece of hardware.
On Monday, the NHL announced that the Isles defenseman is one of three finalists for the 2022 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, given annually “to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”
Flyers center Kevin Hayes and Canadiens goalie Carey Price are the other two finalists for the award, which is determined via voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and will be announced on June 3.
The 2021-22 season was Chara’s 24th in the NHL, and he had two goals, 12 assists, a plus-8 plus/minus rating, and a team leading 85 penalty minutes. He also set the NH: record for games played by a defenseman back on February 24, his 1,652nd game passing Hall of Famer Chris Chelios for the record, and he finished with 1,680 games played.
Adding the Masterson Trophy would be one more piece of hardware in a crowded trophy case for six-time All-Star Chara, who won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 (best defenseman), claimed the Mark Messier Leadership Trophy in 2010-11, and has three Golden Pucks (awarded to Slovakia’s Player of the Year) and a 2011 Stanley Cup with Boston.
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