Tore his ACL, then immediately stole the puck and set up a goal. Discover Palmieri's inspiring Masterton Trophy nomination story.
Forward Kyle Palmieri is the New York Islanders' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship to ice hockey as voted on by the PHWA.
The 35-year-old tore his ACL against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 28. However, it's what he did next that earned him this nomination.
After getting up, he made his way toward the Islanders' bench. As he was doing that, the Flyers were regrouping in their own zone. Palmieri quickly stripped the Flyers defenseman, before chipping the puck to Jonathan Drouin, who then laid a beautiful drop-pass right on the blade of Emil Heineman, who roofed one.
Palmieri never played another shift for the Islanders this season.
That play was what the Masterton Trophy is all about.