If you're a family person like I am, you know that it must be a difficult time in Jose Theodore's life right now.  He's had his issues this year with family and hockey is not just his job, it's his retreat and his therapy.  He may not have been 100% there to start the year, but he's stuck with it and now he's the goalie we thought we were getting in the summer of 2008.

Theodore is playing lights out right now, he's stopping shots he shouldn't and he's reminding me of the Theo of 2002, when he not only stole the Montreal Canadiens a playoff berth who were playing without their captain and #1 center Saku Koivu (who won the Masterton himself that season), he stole a playoff round and couple of trophies, too. Unless he wins the next 20 straight games, I think it unlikely he'll take home another Vezina, but I do think he merits consideration for another award.

If there was ever a time to take time off from hockey or to mail it in, it would be after what Theo went through.  Theo had enough pride and desire to come and play, to honor his contract, and to give the team all he could, and that's a heck of a lot right now. 

I can't think of anyone better for the Capitals to nominate for the yearly award for perseverance and dedication to hockey. 

(From NHL.com:  The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and is given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The winner is selected in a poll of all chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season. 

A grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the Masterton Trophy winner.

The trophy was presented by the NHL Writers' Association in 1968 to commemorate the late William Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited, to a high degree, the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton died on Jan. 15, 1968, after an injury sustained during a hockey game.)