Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is among the nominees for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy revealed by the Professional Hockey Writers Association on Friday.

The trophy is awarded to a player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game. Masterton is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of an on-ice injury.

A player from each team is nominated by its local PHWA chapter.

Crosby is defying age with his performance this season. The 36-year-old is leading the Penguins with 39 goals and 45 assists in 76 games, ensuring a 19th consecutive season averaging a point per game, matching Wayne Gretzky's record.

The nominees from Canadian teams are Calgary's Oliver Kylington, Edmonton's Vincent Desharnais, Montreal's Joel Armia, Ottawa's Claude Giroux, Toronto's Ilya Samsonov, Vancouver's Noah Juulsen, and Winnipeg's Laurent Brossoit.

PHWA writers will vote for three finalists, with the winner revealed during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominees:

Anaheim Ducks - D Urho Vaakanainen; Arizona Coyotes - G Connor Ingram; Boston Bruins - F Danton Heinen; Buffalo Sabres - G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; Calgary Flames - D Oliver Kylington; Carolina Hurricanes - G Frederik Andersen; Chicago Blackhawks - F Colin Blackwell; Colorado Avalanche - F Jonathan Drouin; Columbus Blue Jackets - D Zach Werenski; Dallas Stars - F Matt Duchene; Detroit Red Wings - G Alex Lyon; Edmonton Oilers - D Vincent Desharnais; Florida Panthers - D Oliver Ekman-Larsson; Los Angeles Kings - F Viktor Arvidsson; Minnesota Wild - F Marco Rossi; Montreal Canadiens - F Joel Armia; Nashville Predators - F Michael McCarron; New Jersey Devils - F Curtis Lazar; New York Islanders - F Cal Clutterbuck; New York Rangers - G Jonathan Quick; Ottawa Senators - F Claude Giroux; Philadelphia Flyers - F Sean Couturier; Pittsburgh Penguins - F Sidney Crosby; San Jose Sharks - F Justin Bailey; Seattle Kraken - G Joey Daccord; St. Louis Blues - F Nathan Walker; Tampa Bay Lightning - F Michael Eyssimont; Toronto Maple Leafs - G Ilya Samsonov; Vancouver Canucks - D Noah Juulsen; Vegas Golden Knights - D Alex Pietrangelo; Washington Capitals - F T.J. Oshie; Winnipeg Jets - G Laurent Brossoit.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2024.

The Canadian Press