Vancouver Canucks defenseman Noah Juulsen has been selected as a nominee for the 2024 Bill Masterton Trophy.

Noah Juulsen has been chosen as the Vancouver Canucks’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy this year. Each year, the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s chapter for every NHL team selects a player for this esteemed award, which is presented annually to the player who best embodies qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

After a nine-year journey since being drafted, Juulsen, now 26, has finally realized the potential expected of a first-round pick. Despite spending most of his six seasons in the AHL and enduring a severe eye injury five years ago that nearly ended his career, he has emerged as a stalwart defenseman for the Canucks. Initially starting the season as the team’s seventh defenseman, Juulsen’s commitment to improving his game, with guidance from Canucks assistant coaches Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar, has transformed him into a crucial player whom head coach Rick Tocchet struggles to bench. Known for his physicality and consistent effort, Juulsen frequently makes highlight-reel plays with his impactful hits and consistently demonstrates sportsmanship on the ice.

Noah Juulsen attributes his journey from being benched to becoming a vital part of the Canucks’ penalty kill to the simplicity of his approach: “Keeping it simple has been the most significant factor for me.”

After spending most of the 2022-23 season in the AHL, Juulsen secured a place on Vancouver’s roster at the beginning of the current season. Despite being benched for 11 out of the first 15 games, he persisted in refining his skills and has since become a crucial member of the Canucks’ defensive lineup. Juulsen has already achieved a new personal best in points, and his tally of 160 hits in 53 games places him fourth on the team, with his 85 blocks ranking third.

Juulsen was initially acquired in October 2021 as part of the Olli Juolevi trade. In his 73 games with Vancouver, he has scored one goal and notched nine points. Additionally, Juulsen has participated in 99 regular-season games with the Abbotsford Canucks, contributing to the franchise’s first-ever postseason victory and series triumph.