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Heading into the playoffs, having Sheldon Souray in full form would be a huge asset for the Habs. The last time the club made the postseason, Souray was a monster, playing through pain and eventually suffering from it when the team bowed out to Carolina.

After a wrist injury spelled out the word surgery for Big Sheldon, the hulking d-man battled through, as you know, an entire season without playing. When it was all said and done, Souray returned healthy and started to play some incredible hockey.

It seemed that #44 had, at long last, side-stepped the injury bug. In fact, he was playing so well that fans could mention Norris in the same sentence as Souray and not get shot. The dream died, though, as a knee injury saw the 27-year-old hit the sidelines yet again.

Regardless, it was a dream regular season for Sheldon Souray, something he’ll look to build on in the playoffs as the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

The Masteron, a classy trophy which is awarded for perseverence, sportsmanship,and dedication, is an award we as fans all remember. After all, it was not long ago in 2002 when Saku Koivu took home the trophy after his remarkable comeback.

While Souray’s story does not sit on the same scale as Koivu’s in terms of overcoming the odds, there were many that believed Souray may never hit the ice again in a professional manner. He proved them wrong, to say the least. And, while that injury cut things short again this season, let’s hope our big man can take home an award. It’s no Norris Trophy, but it would be nice consolation for a guy who had a shot at the big prize.

After all, as good as Sheldon’s shot is on the ice, you could argue that he’s got an equally good shot off the ice, and it’s being directed at the Bill Masteron Award. If he were to win, he would not only join Koivu, but a trio of Hab Hall-of-Famers in Serge Savard, the Pocket Rocket, and Claude Provost. That’s some pretty good company.

On behalf of the fans, a job well done by Sheldon Souray.