The Columbus Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association has nominated Blue Jackets’ captain Boone Jenner as their nominee for the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.
The Masterton Trophy is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game.
All 32 chapters of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association select a nominee for their team. Then two rounds of voting will take place.
The initial list of 32 nominees will be voted on by the writers and three finalists will be announced. A second round of voting will take place then from those three finalists to determine the winner of the award.
The winner of the Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2024-25 was Blue Jackets’ center Sean Monahan. He signed a five-year deal with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2024 then had to endure the unthinkable loss of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Through it all, he had one of his best seasons in the NHL and became a leader and mentor in the locker room despite losing one of his best friends.
Jenner has had to overcome a lot of different challenges both on and off the ice for himself while leading the team through its many ups and downs. What he’s been able to accomplish shows off what makes him a worthy Masterton nominee: Dedication, sportsmanship and perseverance.
Jenner’s 2025-26 Season
After missing 56 games due to a shoulder injury suffered during training camp in 2024-25, Jenner came back and made his season debut on Feb 22, 2025 against the Blackhawks. He recorded seven points, all assists, in his first four games back.
Jenner’s 19 points in 26 games helped the Blue Jackets get to the edge of the playoffs. However, thanks to the Montreal Canadiens, they were knocked out the day before their last game.
Jenner was able to lead his team both through the Gaudreau tragedy and not being available for much of the season. His comeback then showed no drop-off from what is usually expected from him. He was his usual physical self, always looking to bring his teammates into the fight.
Jenner was hoping the 2025-26 season would continue the momentum he started from the end of last season. But on Nov 11, he suffered an upper-body injury in Seattle that cost him a month and 14 games of this season. He also missed an additional game on March 3 due to a lower-body injury.
Despite all the setbacks due to injuries, 71 games missed since the start of last season, Jenner has been able to produce a career high in assists while also leading a younger locker room trying to find their way in the NHL.
Jenner has also had to adapt to a new role and to new head coaches. The season started with Dean Evason. The bench is now run by Rick Bowness. Yet, it’s Jenner’s consistency and approach that continues to shine and earn the respect of his teammates.
Jenner has been all over the Blue Jackets’ lineup this season. He’s been a third and fourth-line center. He’s played on the wing in the top and bottom-six. No matter where he plays, he brings the same amount of compete and effort that rubs off. He is the ultimate team player.
Dedication, Sportsmanship and Perseverance
Jenner checks off all the boxes of an ideal Masterton candidate. His nomination in 2026 is the second nomination of his career all spent with the Blue Jackets. He was nominated as well in 2023.
Each passing game for Jenner establishes a new franchise record. Tuesday night in Detroit will be his 804th NHL game. He was named the captain at the start of the 2021-22 season after the departure of Nick Foligno.
To this day, Jenner drives the bus when it comes to the identity of the Blue Jackets. Many consider him to be the heart and soul of the team. Between the things he does on the ice for his team coupled with everything he does off the ice including the work he does with Boone’s Buddies, it all shows how dedicated he is to both hockey and the Blue Jackets.
Jenner demonstrates his sportsmanship through his consistent approach of putting the team over himself. As stated above, he took on a lesser role at a time the team needed it. Yet, he was always ready to give his all when he was ready to return from injury. Having to deal with multiple, significant injuries shows how much he’s had to persevere.
Focused on the Here & Now
Even though he’s accomplished so much in his over 800-game NHL career, Jenner’s focus is on the task at hand of the last five games of the season. His Blue Jackets still have a chance to qualify for the postseason. He will do whatever he can to help his team accomplish that goal. He’ll then reflect on the season when it’s over.
“I think each season brings its own challenges … We’re focused on the task at hand here and what’s to come for us,” Jenner said. “So it’s a great opportunity for us to be here. I’ll try to think about the season as a whole after it.”
“For myself, it’s leading by example first and foremost. I don’t think you can say much if you’re not backing it up. It’s on us as older guys and leaders in the room to provide that on the ice and lead by example. I think when a stretch like this happens, we’ve got to really come together. (We’re) excited for our group to have this challenge and opportunity ahead of us right now.”
If you want to understand the impact of Jenner, you have to look beyond the numbers. You need to look at what he does as a quiet leader while finding a way to persevere through several very difficult situations. His dedication to hockey and the way he conducts himself through everything he’s endured is why he was selected as the Blue Jackets’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2025-26.
