Panthers' Kopecky's resiliency honored with Masterton nomination
Tomas Kopecky isn't the type of player that captures headlines or re-writes record books, but the veteran winger can certainly say with confidence that he's left an indelible mark on the Florida Panthers organization.
In his four years with the Panthers, the 33-year-old has worn many hats as he climbed -- and then later descended -- Florida's depth chart and even managed to lead the team with 15 goals during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
In hockey, however, misfortune often befalls the undeserving.
Such was the case for Kopecky last season, as the Slovakian native was literally knocked out of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi after Slovenia defenseman Sabahudin Kovacevic delivered a brutal elbow to his head, rendering the two-time Olympian visibly disjointed. Kovacevic would later be suspended for his role in the incident, but the damage had already been done.
Instead of a medal, Kopecky returned to Florida with the lingering ill effects of a severe concussion.
For several months after the injury, Kopecky was kept off the ice and away from the game he loved as post-concussion symptoms limited his rehabilitation, which eventually led to a loss of roughly 20 pounds off an already slender 6-foor-3 frame.
"It's always hard coming back from an injury no matter what it is," Kopecky told reporters after Tuesday's practice from the Panthers' practice facility.
"With a concussion, you never know if it will last a couple weeks or a couple of months. It was a couple, two, three months. I was still getting headaches and months later, sleeping nine or 10 hours a night and waking up feeling like I just played in a game. It's tough when you're doing the right things and can't recover. It's not in your hands."
Nearly eight months after the injury, Kopecky returned to the Panthers lineup and has been a fixture on Florida's fourth-line and penalty kill ever since -- averaging 2:19 shorthanded minutes per game.
In recognition of his perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey, the South Florida chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association announced on Tuesday that Kopecky had been selected as the team's 2015 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
"It's a big honor," Kopecky said of the nomination. "It was a tough comeback."
First presented in 1968, the Masterton Trophy is awarded each season under the trusteeship of the PHWA to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
At its core, the Masterton Trophy isn't necessarily about winning and losing, but rather acknowledging those players that often go unnoticed by many. Whether they've battle through adversity or simply remained a consummate professional, the award shines light on those who deserve to be celebrated.
In what may inevitably prove to be his final season with the Panthers, Kopecky, a pending free agent, has recorded just two goals and eight points in 63 games. As it has been since his arrival, however, the contributions of Florida's longtime alternate captain extend beyond the rink.
"He's been good most of the year and I've been happy with him," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said of Kopecky. "This is well deserved for him. He's a good veteran, a good leader on this team. I really like him."
The Masterton Trophy will be awarded following the conclusion of the regular season after a winner is chosen from a poll of the 30 chapters of the PHWA.
When talking to Kopecky, however, it's clear that returning to the ice was rewarding enough.
"I just love hockey and it doesn't matter what kind of injury you have, having the support of family, teammates and trainers was huge," he said. "It always helps when you have really strong support around you."
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
