Letang gets Masterton nod

Defenseman Kris Letang is the Penguins’ nominee for the NHL’s Masterton Trophy, which recognizes perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Letang, 26, is recovering from a stroke and has not played since Jan. 27.

He has resumed practicing, but it is not yet known if he will return to the lineup this season.

Letang, a contender for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman last season, had 10 goals and eight assists in 34 games before his stroke was diagnosed.

Each of the 30 NHL teams has one nominee for the Masterton. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association select the nominee for the team they cover and vote on the eventual winner.

Lowell MacDonald (1973) and Mario Lemieux (1993) are the only Penguins to win the Masterton.