Czech striker Ondřej Kaše is nominated for the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Masterton Trophy, which is awarded in the NHL for endurance, sportsmanship and commitment to hockey. The 26-year-old native of Kadaň suffers from repeated concussions, after which he has always managed to return.
Kash was accompanied by health problems in his previous locations in Anaheim and Boston, and after last season it was not even possible that he would end his career in the NHL. Instead, he signed a contract with Toronto, where he succeeded until further injury: he scored 14 goals in 50 games and scored 27 points before another concussion stopped him on March 19 in a match with Nashville.
Former Chomutova Kaše has meanwhile returned to training, and Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe hopes to have him available at the beginning of the May playoffs.
Every NHL club nominates a representative for the Bill Masterton Trophy, and Kaša was chosen by Toronto hockey journalists. The trophy named after the only hockey player who died directly as a result of an injury suffered in an NHL match was won by Jaromír Jágr in the Florida jersey as the only Czech in the 2015/16 season.
The list of players, including, for example, Slovak defender Zdeno Chara from the New York Islanders, will later be reduced to three. The winner will be announced between the third and fourth Stanley Cup finals.
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