The NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

(above) Former Minnesota Gopher star Phil Kessel won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy last season while playing for the Boston Bruins

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each teams nominates one player in competition. It is often awarded to a player who has come back from career- or even life-threatening illness or injury. A player can win the trophy only once in his career.

1967–68	Provost, ClaudeClaude Provost	Montreal Canadiens	"Embodied the definition of perseverance and dedication to hockey" throughout his 15 year career.[2]
1968–69	Hampson, TedTed Hampson	Oakland Seals	Had his best statistical year on a recent expansion team.[3]
1969–70	Martin, PitPit Martin	Chicago Black Hawks	After denouncing his team at the end of the 1968-69 NHL season, Martin and his team came back with a first place, and Martin had 30 goals and 33 assists for 60 points.[4]
1970–71	Ratelle, JeanJean Ratelle	New York Rangers	A 20 year veteran, he won the trophy for a "lifelong dedication to strong, clean hockey".[5]
1971–72	Clarke, BobbyBobby Clarke	Philadelphia Flyers	Overcame diabetes to play in the NHL.[6]
1972–73	MacDonald, LowellLowell MacDonald	Pittsburgh Penguins	Overcame severe ligament and cartilage damage to his knee and scored 34 goals and 41 assists for 75 points during the 1972-73 NHL season[7]
1973–74	Richard, HenriHenri Richard	Montreal Canadiens	This honoured a career with 11 Stanley Cups.[8]
1974–75	Luce, DonDon Luce	Buffalo Sabres	Awarded for perseverance and dedication, after a 38-point increase in scoring from the previous season.[9]
1975–76	Gilbert, Rod Rod Gilbert	New York Rangers	Overcame a serious back injury early during his career.[10]
1976–77	Westfall, EdEd Westfall	New York Islanders	Awarded for being a good leader.[11]
1977–78	Goring, Butch Butch Goring	Los Angeles Kings	Made the NHL despite his small overall stature and weight, and had consistently good seasons.[12]
1978–79	Savard, SergeSerge Savard	Montreal Canadiens	Awarded for "dedication to hockey", after he won his 8th Stanley Cup in eleven seasons.[13]
1979–80	MacAdam, Al Al MacAdam	Minnesota North Stars	Rewarded for his perseverance after scoring a career high 42 goals and 51 assists for 93 points.[14]
1980–81	Dunlop, BlakeBlake Dunlop	St. Louis Blues	Although he was a star in junior hockey, he only broke out during the 1980-81 NHL season, after being drafted during the 1973-74 NHL season, by scoring 20 goals and 67 assists for 87 points. It was awarded for perseverance.[15]
1981–82	Resch, GlennGlenn Resch	Colorado Rockies	Awarded for perseverance, as he gave his young team more confidence while he served as goaltender.[16]
1982–83	McDonald, LannyLanny McDonald	Calgary Flames	Presented for his dedication; he was traded around the league numerous times, and when he was traded to the Flames, he scored 66 goals and 32 assists for 98 points.[17]
1983–84	Park, BradBrad Park	Detroit Red Wings	Awarded for his dedication to hockey[18]
1984–85	Hedberg, AndersAnders Hedberg	New York Rangers	He was recognized for a dedicated career, and unlike many other winners, for an exceptional season as well.[19]
1985–86	Simmer, CharlieCharlie Simmer	Boston Bruins	Overcame serious ligament damage to his knee to score 60 points.[20]
1986–87	Jarvis, Doug Doug Jarvis	Hartford Whalers	Awarded after he beat Garry Unger's record for consecutive games played, with 914 games.[21]
1987–88	Bourne, BobBob Bourne	Los Angeles Kings	Awarded for exemplifying the qualities of dedication and perseverance.[22]
1988–89	Kerr, TimTim Kerr	Philadelphia Flyers	He returned to score 48 goals and 40 assists for 88 points in 69 games after overcoming severe knee and shoulder injuries, as well as aseptic meningitis the season before.[23]
1989–90	Kluzak, GordGord Kluzak	Boston Bruins	Tried to overcome severe knee injuries, but after playing two games after his 10th knee operation, he retired.[24]
1990–91	Taylor, DaveDave Taylor	Los Angeles Kings	Played all his 17 seasons with the Kings, and was honored for his dedication.[25]
1991–92	Fitzpatrick, MarkMark Fitzpatrick	New York Islanders	Ovecame eosinophilia myalgia syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disease, and returned to the NHL.[26]
1992–93	Lemieux, MarioMario Lemieux	Pittsburgh Penguins	Scored 69 goals and 91 assists for 160 points, despite missing 24 games due to Hodgkin's lymphoma[27]
1993–94	Neely, CamCam Neely	Boston Bruins	Awarded "to recognize his valiant efforts to return to NHL action after suffering career-threatening injuries"; however he retired after 1995-96 NHL season due to them.[28]
1994–95	LaFontaine, PatPat LaFontaine	Buffalo Sabres	Overcame serous head injury[29]
1995–96	Roberts, Gary Gary Roberts	Calgary Flames	Successfully recovered from possibly career-ending surgery to correct bone spurs and nerve damage[30]
1996–97	Granato, TonyTony Granato	San Jose Sharks	Overcame possibly career-ending brain injury sustained during 1995-96 NHL season to score 25 goals during the 1996-97 NHL season[31]
1997–98	McLennan, JamieJamie McLennan	St. Louis Blues	Overcame bacterial meningitis[32]
1998–99	Cullen, JohnJohn Cullen	Tampa Bay Lightning	Overcame non-Hodgkins lymphoma[33]
1999–00	Daneyko, KenKen Daneyko	New Jersey Devils	Ovecame alcoholism.[34]
2000–01	Graves, AdamAdam Graves	New York Rangers	Awarded for all-around dedication to hockey[35]
2001–02	Koivu, SakuSaku Koivu	Montreal Canadiens	Overcame non-Hodgkins lymphoma[36]
2002–03	Yzerman, SteveSteve Yzerman	Detroit Red Wings	Eventually overcame several health problems, but played only a small part of the 2002-03 NHL season[37]
2003–04	Berard, Bryan Bryan Berard	Chicago Blackhawks	Overcame an eye injury that rendered the eye legally blind.[38]
2004–05	zzzNo winner due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout	-	-
2005–06	Selanne, TeemuTeemu Selanne	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	Overcame major knee surgery to score 90 points (40 goals and 50 assists)[39]
2006–07	Kessel, PhilPhil Kessel	Boston Bruins	Missed 12 games due to testicular cancer mid season.[40]