The PHWA's New York Chapter announced the nomination of Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski for this year's Bill Masterton Trophy. This is quite an accomplishment for a forward who has been up and down between the AHL and NHL this past two seasons.
Jonny Brodzinski may just be a regular depth forward to some fans, but to others like the members of the PHWA, they feel he's got the qualities of a Masterton Trophy nomination.It was announced today by The New York Post's Mollie Walker that the New York Chapter had nominated him for the award.
This season as a depth winger in the Rangers' lineup, he's played a total of 46 games in the NHL, and scored 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists).
He's split the season between the Hartford Wolfpack and the Rangers, playing 11 in the AHL, scoring 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 16 games.
What are the qualities he has that make him deserving of the award, according to the PHWA New York Chapter?
Perserverance. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2013 and has struggled to find himself in a full-time NHL role. That wish was fulfilled this season, after signing a deal with the Rangers in 2020, and working diligently in the AHL through 2020-2022, and earned a two-year deal with the Rangers.
Now the scrappy fourth-line has a regular spot in the lineup and plays consistent hockey for the team.
«When I first signed in New York, I was fully anticipating being an American League guy,» Brodzinski said. «Just being a leader for the younger guys, just being a good captain. I just found my way back to the NHL by doing that. Was never expecting to get back to this point, but hard work and perseverance pays off.»
His dedication to the game of hockey has shone through, as his younger years saw him not only play the sport of hockey with his siblings. He also helped his dad run HockeyZone, a store in Minnesota, until it was bought out by PureHockey.
«It was like hockey 24/7,» Brodzinski said of his childhood. «He opened up a hockey store. At the time it was called Hockey Zone, then he merged with Hockey Central and then they got bought out by Pure Hockey. I grew up working at his store for 6-7 years. Sharpened skates, did everything. It was like hockey 24/7 with our whole family. Hockey all the time, every day, all day.»
His leadership skills are a reason why he earned the captaincy in Hartford, as he uses his past experiences in the league to help out younger players in the lineup. He has no issues being a mentor to prospects, and it has helped cultivate a great locker room where he was in Hartford.
Now, living his NHL dream, he also has a chance to earn a Bill Masterton Trophy for his positive contributions to the game.
