PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom's story has become one of the most inspirational in the history of Philadelphia sports. In December 2019, he learned shortly before his 25th birthday that he had Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Lindblom overcame and beat the disease, returning to the Flyers for their final two games of the pandemic-delayed 2020 playoffs, and then again for the entire 2021 season.
Thus, he was awarded this year's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which goes annually to an NHL player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."
The 24-year-old Swede regained his regular spot in the Flyers' lineup this season and played 50 of 56 games. He recorded 14 points averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time.
“Last season was a battle for me, but just to be able to get back on the ice was so, so good,” Lindblom said in a video accepting the award from 2020 winner Bobby Ryan. “It’s an awesome feeling to be back on the ice again.”
Lindblom completed treatment in July and was again declared cancer-free following another scan in March. He said at the time he would feel good one day and like he hadn't played hockey for a while the next.
“Just to get back from losing all the muscles, then you start playing again and to feel like you’re not really there,” Lindblom said Tuesday. “It's tough time to just get around, and then it just starts hitting you mentally, as well, and you feel tired.”
Ryan said he felt like Lindblom should have won this last year when he received the most Masterton votes after publicly sharing his battle with alcohol issues. Lindblom was also a finalist then, before getting back on the ice for game action.
Lindblom thanked his family, girlfriend and the doctors and nurses who helped him along the way.
“A big thank you to all of you,” he said.
San Jose’s Patrick Marleau and Minnesota’s Matt Dumba were the other finalists for the award voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Marleau broke Gordie Howe's career games played record at age 41, while Dumba continued his efforts to fight for more diversity in hockey.
“I feel very honored and proud to win this award and to compete with these players like Matt Dumba and Patrick Marleau that have been great players and great people on and off the ice," Lindblom said. "That’s very special for me.”
Before his cancer diagnosis, Lindblom was having a break-out season in 2019-20 with 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games. This season, Lindblom had 8 goals and 14 points in 50 games, but showed a lot of positive things on the ice that don't appear in the box score.
The best news of all from the season: In March, Lindblom announced that his most recent scan had come back clear.
He is the fourth Flyer in franchise history to receive this award, joining Ian Laperriere (2011), Tim Kerry (1989) and Bobby Clarke (1972).