Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesMike Reilly has been named the New York Islanders representative for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.
The nomination comes after Reilly suffered a concussion in a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1 before doctors discovered a heart defect that required a procedure.
He underwent the procedure on Nov. 18 and impressively returned to the lineup on March 16 against the Florida Panthers.
Since the award's creation in 1968, the Islanders have had three players win the prized trophy: Ed Westfall (1977), Mark Fitzpatrick (1992), and Robin Lehner (2019).
Recent nominees on the Islanders include Cal Clutterbuck (2024), Zach Parise (2023), Zdeno Chara (2022), and Casey Cizikas (2021).
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Michael Ostrower wrote this story.