Masterton Mistake

Before I start here I’ll say that all three of the finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy are certainly worthy of their nominations and should be commended for their efforts to battle through their personal struggles in order to prolong their careers. However, for the NHL to overlook Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators is not a good look for the league. When the nominees from each team were released at the end of March, I wrote an article for CKSN praising all the deserving nominees, but also stating my pick for the award would be Jordin Tootoo.

Now the upcoming rant is not me getting on my soapbox and telling everyone that I’m right and the voters are wrong, but I think something needs to be said here. For the voters to overlook the comeback of Jordin Tootoo, is to clearly state there is still a negative stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction in the minds of many within the NHL. Now obviously there will always be questions surrounding anyone who suffers from an addiction, like Jordin Tootoo does, but his story of facing his demons and coming out of rehab a better person and professional is, if nothing else, admirable.

The NHL’s substance abuse program clearly is not taken seriously enough by those who determine the NHL’s player who displays perseverance and dedication if the success stories of those who complete the program, and are better for having gone through it, are not recognized. In Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers outfielder and recovering addict Josh Hamilton is revered as a person of conviction and is sold to fans by the league and his team as a role model—as he should be. Unfortunately, Tootoo doesn’t have the star qualities of a Josh Hamilton, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be a poster boy. Tootoo is a valuable member of his team and an even more valuable part of the Nashville community, but that’s apparently not sexy enough for the Masterton voters. It is easy to vote for Max Pacioretty because his injury was so visible and was constantly talked about. Joffery Lupul had a career year this season, but would he have received a single vote had he not played for the Toronto Maple Leafs? And Daniel Alfredsson might be one of my all-time favourite players, but he’s simply old. You want an old guy to vote for? How about Dwayne Roloson? Where is his recognition? He’s 42.

Again, it may sound like I’m bitter and I think Pacioretty, Lupul, and Alfie don’t deserve to be nominated, but that’s not the case. I was just hoping that this year, especially after last summer where the NHL lost Derek Boogard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak and substance abuse played a role in varying capacities in their deaths, the voters would look at a guy like Jordin Tootoo and give him the credit he deserves for overcoming his demons and becoming a better person. Not to add a trophy to Tootoo’s wall, but to show other NHLers, pro athletes, and even the rest of the people in this world battling addiction that there is help out there and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Giving the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy to Jordin Tootoo could have made a real statement on behalf of the NHL, but instead the voters dropped the ball and unfortunately sweeping Tootoo’s accomplishments under the rug will keep his success story away from the eyes that need to see it and we might lose another warrior of our game to a battle off the ice.