|
Team
|
Reason
|
Year
|
Answer
|
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
|
Suffering a stroke and returning to play just 12 days later
|
2023
|
Kris Letang
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Overcoming substance abuse.
|
2022
|
Carey Price
|
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
Beating cancer.
|
2021
|
Oskar Lindblom
|
|
Ottawa Senators
|
Overcoming substance abuse and PTSD.
|
2020
|
Bobby Ryan
|
|
New York Islanders
|
Overcoming substance abuse and PTSD.
|
2019
|
Robin Lehner
|
|
New Jersey Devils
|
Beating cancer.
|
2018
|
Brian Boyle
|
|
Ottawa Senators
|
Going to the Eastern Conference Finals after his wife was diagnosed with cancer.
|
2017
|
Craig Anderson
|
|
Florida Panthers
|
Leading his team in points at the age of 44.
|
2016
|
Jaromir Jagr
|
|
Minnesota Wild
|
Leading the last-place Wild to a playoff spot.
|
2015
|
Devan Dubnyk
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Returning to the NHL after his wife's battle with cancer.
|
2014
|
Dominic Moore
|
|
Minnesota Wild
|
Battling multiple sclerosis.
|
2013
|
Josh Harding
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Achieving career highs after being sidelined the previous season due to a concussion and a fractured vertebrae.
|
2012
|
Max Pacioretty
|
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
Battling with post-concussion syndrome that ended his career.
|
2011
|
Ian Laperriere
|
|
Washington Capitals
|
After the death of his son, he had his best season in almost a decade
|
2010
|
Jose Theodore
|
|
Nashville Predators
|
Playing 41 games that season despite missing the previous two years due to a fragmented disc and a strained groin.
|
2009
|
Steve Sullivan
|
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
Playing an entire season despite battling cancer.
|
2008
|
Jason Blake
|
|
Boston Bruins
|
Missing 12 games due to testicular cancer.
|
2007
|
Phil Kessel
|
|
Mighty Ducks of Anahiem
|
Overcoming a major knee surgery and netting 90 points.
|
2006
|
Teemu Selanne
|
|
Chicago Blackhawks
|
Overcoming an injury that rendered him legally blind.
|
2004
|
Bryan Berard
|
|
Detroit Red Wings
|
Overcoming several health problems.
|
2003
|
Steve Yzerman
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Battling cancer.
|
2002
|
Saku Koivu
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
2001
|
Adam Graves
|
|
New Jersey Devils
|
Overcoming alcoholism.
|
2000
|
Ken Danekyo
|
|
Tampa Bay Lightning
|
Battling cancer.
|
1999
|
John Cullen
|
|
St. Louis Blues
|
Battling bacterial meningitis.
|
1998
|
Jamie McLellan
|
|
San Jose Sharks
|
Overcoming brain injury.
|
1997
|
Tony Granato
|
|
Calgary Flames
|
Recovered from bone and nerve surgery.
|
1996
|
Gary Roberts
|
|
Buffalo Sabres
|
Overcoming head injuries.
|
1995
|
Pat LaFontaine
|
|
Boston Bruins
|
Efforts to return to the NHL despite injury struggles.
|
1994
|
Cam Neely
|
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
|
Winning the Art Ross despite missing 24 games due to a battle with cancer.
|
1993
|
Mario Lemieux
|
|
New York Islanders
|
Overcoming Eosinophilia–myalgia syndrome
|
1992
|
Mark Fitzpatrick
|
|
Los Angeles Kings
|
Playing his entire 17-year career in Los Angeles.
|
1991
|
Dave Taylor
|
|
Boston Bruins
|
Overcoming multiple knee surgeries.
|
1990
|
Gord Kluzak
|
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
Returning to the NHL after knee and shoulder issues the season prior.
|
1989
|
Tim Kerr
|
|
Los Angeles Kings
|
Dedication and perseverance.
|
1988
|
Bob Bourne
|
|
Hartford Whalers
|
Breaking the iron-man streak of consecutive games played.
|
1987
|
Doug Jarvis
|
|
Boston Bruins
|
Overcoming severe ligament damage.
|
1986
|
Charlie Simmer
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
1985
|
Anders Hedberg
|
|
Detroit Red Wings
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
1984
|
Brad Park
|
|
Calgary Flames
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
1983
|
Lanny McDonald
|
|
Colorado Rockies
|
Perseverance to hockey.
|
1982
|
Glenn Resch
|
|
St. Louis Blues
|
Perseverance to hockey.
|
1981
|
Blake Dunlop
|
|
Minnesota North Stars
|
Perseverance to hockey.
|
1980
|
Al MacAdam
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
1979
|
Serge Savard
|
|
Los Angeles Kings
|
Making the NHL despite his short stature.
|
1978
|
Butch Goring
|
|
New York Islanders
|
Leadership.
|
1977
|
Ed Westfall
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Overcoming a severe back injury.
|
1976
|
Rod Gilbert
|
|
Buffalo Sabres
|
Perseverance and dedication.
|
1975
|
Don Luce
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Honouring his 20 year career and 11 Stanley Cups
|
1974
|
Henri Richard
|
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
|
Overcoming severe ligament and cartilage damage.
|
1973
|
Lowell MacDonald
|
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
Overcoming diabetes.
|
1972
|
Bobby Clarke
|
|
New York Rangers
|
Dedication to hockey.
|
1971
|
Jean Ratelle
|
|
Chicago Black Hawks
|
Leading the Black Hawks to first place in the league.
|
1970
|
Pit Martin
|
|
Oakland Seals
|
Career highs on an expansion team.
|
1969
|
Ted Hampson
|
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
Perseverance and dedication.
|
1968
|
Claude Provost
|
