Captain Claude Giroux is the Flyers' nominee for the 2018 Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game of hockey.
Giroux was recognized by the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for his bounce-back season in 2017-18 following surgery to repair hip and abdominal injuries in 2016.
"It means a lot," Giroux said. "I've been through a lot and I've been able to have a lot of help from everybody that's involved with me, all my trainers here in Philly and my coaches, and also my trainer back home Tony Greco.
"I think last year was pretty tough. My mind was telling me to do something, but I just couldn't do it. At the end, it was more of a mental thing and I had a really tough time. Obviously when you're not producing, not helping the team and the team is not doing well, it's not as fun."
Giroux is currently on pace to finish with a career-high 98 points after posting just 58 points during an injury-plagued 2016-17 campaign, marking one of the highest scoring improvements by any player over the past two seasons.
All 31 NHL teams will nominate a Masterton representative and three finalists will be announced in April with the recipient being honored at the NHL Awards show following the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Flyers assistant coach Ian Laperriere was the last Flyers player to win the Masterton Trophy in 2011 after sustaining a career-ending eye injury in the team's first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in 2010.
