<i>Center Tomas Hertl (48) is named First Star of the Game after scoring a hat trick to lead the Golden Knights to a 6-3 victory over the Red Wings in an NHL game at T-Mobile Arena on March 22, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images</b></i> [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ae259364-921e-4abe-a89a-a5b2bf9d3970.jpeg] <i>Center Tomas Hertl (48) is named First Star of the Game after scoring a hat trick to lead the Golden Knights to a 6-3 victory over the Red Wings in an NHL game at T-Mobile Arena on March 22, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images</b></i> LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has nominated Golden K [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights]nights forward Tomáš Hertl as their nominee for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. Rarely seen without a smile on his face, and a guy who coined the phrase "Fun must be always," Hertl has embodied the qualifications for the award since arriving [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWFJvWldodlkydGxlVzVsZDNNdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwiNvfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA:en]in Vegas. "I like to be a happy guy, I like to joke around, I like jokes and I think it's helping the team, bring some positive energy," Hertl told The Hockey News earlier this season. "I was always like that at school when I was young and I never want to really change. "A lot of times, the smile helps the team. It's kind of my personality, be happy and it makes everybody happy." All 32 chapters of the Professional Hockey Writers Association select a nominee for their team. Then two rounds of voting will take place. The initial list of 32 nominees will be voted on by the writers, and three finalists will be announced. A second round of voting will take place then, from those three finalists to determine the winner of the award. The Masterton Trophy is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game. Hertl, who injured his shoulder March 23 against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being shoved into the boards by defenseman Emil Lilleberg, ranks second on the Knights with 31 goals and third with 59 points. Prior to his injury, Hertl was easily the Golden Knights' hottest skater, having scored 21 goals and assisted on 13 others since Jan. 7. He also registered two hat tricks, on March 9 and 22. To date, his 21 goals during that stretch are tied for the seventh most in the league. At the time of his injury, they ranked No. 1 in the NHL. Hertl, whose 14 power-play goals are tied for the fifth most in the NHL this season, has been skating in a non-contact jersey of late, and coach Bruce Cassidy is hoping for his return in time for the playoffs. "He’s been putting the work in," Bruce Cassidy said recently. "We weren’t sure how it was going to come along, but good to see him back out there." The team, which earned a playoff spot for the seventh time in eight seasons, clinched home ice for the first round with Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Avalanche in Denver.
