Hartnett: Fearless Zuccarello Is A Worthy Masterton Trophy Nominee

By Sean Hartnett
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If there's one adjective that sums up Rangers winger Mats Zuccarello, it would be lionhearted.

You would be hard-pressed to find a hockey player who competes harder and is more determined than the 28-year-old Norwegian.

It's easy to see why Rangers fans adore the 5-foot-7 winger. Just watch him once and you're likely to be captivated by his overt passion for the game. Like Theo Fleury and Martin St. Louis who starred before him, Zuccarello makes the most of his diminutive frame. He owns the ice the way an aggressive pint-sized dog asserts itself among larger dogs at the park.

In addition to his passion and renowned vision, what stands out about Zuccarello is his courage. He never backs down from a challenge -- whether it be a physical battle along the corner boards, standing up for himself when a larger player attempts to get under his skin or in the way he wills the Rangers to victory, often in comeback fashion.

On Monday morning, the Rangers' chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Zuccarello for the 2016 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is handed out annually to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." This year's winner will be announced at the 2016 NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22.

Zuccarello embodies all of those characteristics and every bit of his resolve was tested after he sustained a serious brain injury during the 2015 playoffs. During Game 5 of the Rangers' first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, captain Ryan McDonagh's slap shot struck Zuccarello in the left side of his head.

Days after the Rangers' playoff exit on June 1, Zuccarello revealed the full details of the injury. He had suffered a brain contusion, a hairline fracture of the skull, brain bleeding and a stroke. It took four days for Zuccarello to regain the ability to speak and he had lost some feeling in his arm.

So began the long journey back after receiving positive feedback from doctors.

"It took me a while before I really thought about it," Zuccarello said during Monday's conference call. "First, I was focusing on just getting better and hockey was not number one in my mind when I was hurt. The guys were in the playoffs, and I was watching every game. And then after talking with the doctors, my number one thought was when I'm gonna be back and play again. I told myself maybe I could be ready if we made the Finals. I don't think there was any chance of that. The injury was too serious for that, but that was the goal I had to stay positive.

"This summer I took some extra time off. My training didn't go as good as I had done the last couple years before that, but my number one goal was to be 100 percent healthy and have no issues," he added.

When Zuccarello returned during the preseason, he resumed his career with the same fearlessness he had always brings to the ice. Even after suffering such a serious injury and embarking on an arduous comeback, he reverted to his typical level of production. He has 24 goals and 33 assists, mirroring the production of his 2013-14 breakout season.

"In the summer I was thinking I'm gonna be fine, but you never know until you play a real game in that situation," he said. "I don't feel like I think about it. I feel like I'm playing on my instinct the same way I did before. People talk about me having a good year. Obviously, I've scored more goals. I think I could be more consistent. That's what I'm gonna work on this summer, get a full summer of working out and being stronger hopefully next year. But being injured like that and coming back for sure it's good to be on a good team, get a lot of help from my teammates, good players, and the team and staff that's believed in me and helped me come back. I have a lot to say thank you for them."

Now, the goal in mind for Zuccarello is repaying the support he received from fans, teammates and the Rangers' organization by helping to deliver a Stanley Cup victory parade down the Canyon of Heroes.

"It's been a dream, and I've been lucky to be a New York Ranger," Zuccarello said. "It's probably the coolest club in the NHL, with the best fans, and to play in MSG -- I'm super proud of being a Ranger. It's a dream come true for sure. I'm proud of being in the NHL, but especially about being a New York Ranger. It's something I'll never forget. I'm proud. Hopefully, I can play here the rest of my career and win a Cup."

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey