Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan expressed gratitude Tuesday for his selection as the team's nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy after enduring a tough year off the ice.

"Obviously I'm honored. I think it's a great thing and a silver lining for the year that I went through," Ryan told team reporter Craig Medaglia.

He added: "To be recognized for some of the work that I put in during the months leading up to my comeback is a very small but fulfilling thing for me."

The trophy is awarded annually to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." Each team's nominee was announced Tuesday.

Ryan took a leave of absence from hockey in November to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for an alcohol issue he said he dealt with for years. He returned to action on Feb. 25 after being in the program for over three months.

The 33-year-old also said he wasn't sure he'd be able to play again when he left the team in November.

"Right when I left was the hardest time because I knew leaving that I might have played my last game in the NHL. That was the hardest thing to swallow and to get over," Ryan said.

"I doubted that I'd be able to get my body where I needed to be to play," he added. "I have to thank the staff because not only was I able to do that but I was in the best shape of my life for an entire month before I got back up to game speed. I did worry about it but I had an incredible group around me."

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