The NHL is announcing awards in a different fashion this year, as the league is surprising all the winners with the announcement at their homes.
This year’s Bill Masterton Award announcement was a special moment, as Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan won the award for his role in helping the Blue Jackets grieve the death of Johnny Gaudreau. To surprise Monahan, the NHL had Meredith Gaudreau surprise Monahan with the award in an emotional video.
Johnny Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, surprised Sean Monahan with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 💙
Watch the #NHLAwards on June 12 at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT and @Sportsnet before Game 4 of the #StanleyCup Final. pic.twitter.com/njj3I7YptA
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2025
Monahan has been front and center this year as Columbus honored “Johnny Hockey” all season long, as he would always be right next to Meredith on the ice. Gaudreau and Monahan had a close relationship dating back to their rookie seasons.
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Here’s a breakdown of the Monahan and Gaudreau relationship over the years.
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Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan relationship
Monahan and Gaudreau first became teammates with the Flames in 2013, and they quickly grew close. Monahan played 75 games in his 2013-14 rookie season, while Gaudreau played just one game that year before joining the team full time the following year.
For nine years, the two forwards formed a key duo in the Flames’ core, as they played their best seasons together in Columbus. Then, after the 2021-22 season, Gaudreau left Calgary to sign with the Blue Jackets, while Monahan was traded to the Canadiens.
Two years later, when Monahan became a free agent, Gaudreau recruited him to Columbus to join him with the Blue Jackets.
“I’d get 40 (texts) a day from him some days, I swear,” Monahan said, via The Athletic. “He was so excited. I was so excited. Our families were excited. We were looking forward to playing together again, of course. But we were both really excited to raise our kids together.”
When Gaudreau died in an accident in August of 2024, Monahan was devastated and struggled to get back on the ice. However, he became one of the key figures to support Meredith Gaudreau and her three children as they processed Johnny’s passing.
“Sean stood by my side for every tribute, every walkout,” Meredith said. “I dragged him out there to cry with me on national television so many times.”
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What is the Bill Masterton trophy?
The Bill Masterton trophy is awarded each season “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”The trophy has been given out since 1968 to honor Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died after suffering a brain injury during a game in 1968 after taking a hit and a blow to the head.
Past winners of the award include Carey Price, Jaromir Jagr, Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux.Â
More: Who is the Conn Smythe Trophy named after?
What happened to Johnny Gaudreau?
On August 29, 2024, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were bicycling near their New Jersey hometown when they were struck by a drunk driver. The two brothers were back home for their sister’s wedding, which was scheduled for the next day.
The Gaudreaus were pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested after failing a breathalyzer test. Johnny was 31 years old at the time of his death, while Matthew was 29, and both men left a wife and kids behind.
Over the past year, the NHL has honored the Gaudreaus multiple times, especially the Flames and Blue Jackets, the two teams for whom Johnny played in his career.
