Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan is the winner of the 2024-25 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the National Hockey League and club announced Thursday.

Monahan, Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog, and Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were finalists for the award, which is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. 

Monahan, 30, is the first player in Blue Jackets history to win the award after becoming the third Columbus player to be named a finalist. Forward Nick Foligno was a finalist in 2018-19, while forward Kevin Dineen was a finalist in each of the club’s first two seasons, in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

The Brampton, Ontario native registered 19 goals and 38 assists in 54 appearances in his first season with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25.  He set a single-season career high in points-per-game (1.06) and posted the second-most assists despite missing 28 contests due to a wrist injury.  

Signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent on July 1, 2024, Monahan anticipated that he would be reunited with his best friend, Johnny Gaudreau, who lost his life in a tragic accident two months later. Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, surprised Monahan with the Masterton Trophy at his home.