RELEASE: McDavid selected as Oilers nominee for Masterton Trophy

EDMONTON, AB - Team captain and forward Connor McDavid has been named the Oilers nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Edmonton chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The trophy honours the late Bill Masterton, the only NHL player to die from injuries sustained in a game. First awarded in 1968, the Masterton Trophy is under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Sportsnet's Mark Spector, chair of the Edmonton chapter of the PHWA, issued the following statement:

"Connor McDavid completely tore the Posterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee in Game 82 of the 2018-19 season. As late as July 2019, doctors were still debating to perform surgery that could have cost McDavid more than half of his season - perhaps the entire 2019-20 season - or continue with a less invasive rehab and allow the tear to repair naturally.

Not only did McDavid spend his summer in tireless rehab, he went on to finish the season in second place in the NHL with 97 points, trailing only teammate Leon Draisaitl. His 34 goals stood 10th in the NHL, his 63 assists tied for second in the NHL - all after missing seven games to injury or illness."

McDavid would be the first-ever Oilers player to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.