Jaromir Jagr, Manny Malhotra and Dominic Moore were announced Wednesday as the three finalists for the Masterton Award, given annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Jagr continues to be the league’s ageless wonder, leading the New Jersey Devils in points (67) and assists (43) as a 42-year-old this season. (UPDATE: He also signed a contract Wednesday to return to New Jersey in 2014-15.)
Malhotra played in just nine games with the Vancouver Canucks last season and began the 2013-14 campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate. He was called up to the big club on Nov. 1 and went on to play in 69 games for the Hurricanes, ranking second in the NHL in faceoff percentage (59.4 percent).
Moore returned to the New York Rangers this season after spending 18 months away from the game following the death of his wife, Katie, to liver cancer. His journey was documented last week in an emotional feature from ESPN’s E:60. Moore, a Harvard grad, played in 73 games for the Rangers during the regular season and has three points (one goal, two assists) through the team’s first six playoff games.
Gregory Campbell, who played in all 82 games during the regular season after breaking his leg in the 2013 Eastern Conference finals, was the Boston Bruins’ nominee for the award. Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid was a finalist for the honor last season.
