Chris Kreider has mixed feelings about NHL honor

After practice on Tuesday, Chris Kreider had no idea he was the Rangers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. But when he was told he was up for the award, bestowed by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) to the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey,” he immediately remembered a conversation with 2014 winner and former teammate, Dom Moore.

“I remember Dom Moore talking a little bit about it, and it’s probably not the award you want to be nominated for. It means you went through some stuff,” Kreider said. “But it’s an honor, especially considering the guys that have been nominated and guys that have won it in the past. It’s something that’s kind of cool, something you can hang your hat on.”

During a game on Dec. 27, Kreider lost feeling in his right arm and had it swell up. Doctors eventually discovered a blood clot that required rib resection surgery. It was a very dangerous situation, and at first, it was unclear if he ever would be able to play again.

The 26-year-old lost close to 20 pounds, but returned on Feb. 23 and has been terrific ever since.

“Any player coming back from a serious injury like he had, it’s going to take him time,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “It took him time. He had lost weight, also. His work ethic in getting back out there, he’s just worked himself back into form. He’s playing real well right now.”

Kreider said he still has some rehab to do on the arm, but the whole incident “makes you grateful and makes you appreciate being able to play hockey again this year.

“I wasn’t not grateful, it just kind of grants you a different perspective,” he added. “A new lease on life in a way, when you sit back and hear about the severity of it and what could have happened, you consider yourself pretty lucky. You initially hear about stuff, and thinking ‘I may not be able to play hockey again.’ It’s hard for something like that not to change you in a way.”

see also

Devils star Brian Boyles opens up on battle with leukemia

Devils veteran Brian Boyle — who was diagnosed with a…

It’s unlikely Kreider is going to win the award. Brian Boyle of the Devils — a former teammate — is the most logical choice after returning to play following a bout with cancer. The Islanders’ candidate is Josh Bailey.

Other worthy candidates include the Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal, whose infant daughter died due to a terminal birth defect; the Panthers’ Roberto Luongo, who gave a gripping on-ice speech after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla., the town he calls home; the Sabres’ Kyle Okposo, who returned to play after being hospitalized with complications after another concussion; and the Canucks’ Derek Dorsett, who was forced to retire after being diagnosed with a neck injury.

When Moore won, it was soon after the death of his wife from a rare form of cancer. So as much as Kreider went through to get back to the ice, it is those types of travails that put his injury — and his nomination — in perspective.

“I think about the guys that have been nominated and won the award,” Kreider said, “they’ve dealt with a lot more stuff than what I had to deal with.”