On Thursday, Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan was named the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an honor awarded every year to the NHL player who best “exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”

Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan was brought to tears accepting the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the wife of his late friend and teammate, Johnny Gaudreau.

Meredith Gaudreau shared a beautiful and emotional moment with her late husband Johnny's former teammate and close friend Sean Monahan. The National Hockey League (NHL) named Monahan, 30, the recipient of the 2024-25 Masterton Memorial Trophy and enlisted Meredith to surprise the Blue Jackets center with the honor.