Dan Girardi nominated for Masterton Trophy
Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the New Jersey Devils with teammates Marian Gaborik #10 and Ryan McDonagh #27. (March 19, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Dan Girardi had just finished a pregame nap Wednesday when his agent texted that he had been nominated for the Masterton Trophy.
"I knew what it was, but I took a deeper look," said Girardi, a defenseman in his fifth season with the Rangers. "It means a lot to think I fit the profile. I think it's a good description of how [I see] myself as a hockey player and a person."
The trophy, named for the late North Stars player Bill Masterton, has been awarded since 1968 and honors perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Girardi, 27, was selected by the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association to be the team's nominee in a very close vote. Marc Staal and Ryan Callahan finished second and third. Girardi, who was undrafted and later signed by the Rangers as a free agent in July 2006, is averaging 26:28 in ice time, fourth-highest in the league, and is in the top 10 in blocked shots. He was selected to the All-Star team for the first time.
"With Marc [Staal] not playing early in the year, getting the "A,'' getting more responsibility, I liked the challenge, being able to take that role for a while,'' he said. "I've gone through a lot to get to this point."
Among the other nominees are Jaromir Jagr (Flyers), Matt Cooke (Penguins), Max Pacioretty (Canadiens) and Daniel Alfredsson (Senators). Finalists are selected in April and the winner is named in June.
Rangers Jean Ratelle (1971), Rod Gilbert (1976), Anders Hedberg (1985) and Adam Graves (2001) have won the award. Last year's winner was Philadelphia's Ian Laperriere.
"It's well deserved," coach John Tortorella said, "An undrafted guy, an All-Star now, the way he plays, the way he goes about his business at practice, everything about him falls in line with it."
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