ST PAUL, Minn. — It's been just over 10 months since forward Mason Shaw crashed awkwardly into the boards during a game in Las Vegas, ultimately ending his season with the Minnesota Wild.
The hard-nosed fourth-liner tore his ACL in the midst of Minnesota's push for the postseason. The Wild went on to compete in the playoffs. Shaw didn't.
"If you look at yourself in the mirror every day and say you're putting in an honest effort, you're gonna get rewarded for that eventually," said Shaw during an interview last summer.
On Thursday, he was rewarded.
Shaw signed a two-way contract with the Wild and will practice with the team Friday.
Shaw was in the midst of his best season last year before getting hurt, scoring seven goals and notching 10 assists in 59 games. He also played an integral role in the Wild's penalty kill. He returned to the ice earlier this year and signed with the Iowa Wild where he's scored four goals, two while shorthanded, in nine games.
The recovery was nothing new for Shaw, who has torn his ACL four separate times throughout his playing career. Crediting his resilience to his upbringing, Shaw will get another chance with the team that selected him at No. 97 overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
"I've learned the most about myself in times of injury or failure, and I'll tell you what, you should lean on those hard days, you know, when things are going your way and you're thankful for them and grateful for what you had to go through," Shaw said in last year's interview. "Nobody's journey is the same and, unfortunately, mine's got a few injuries that have been pretty significant. But you know, once again, I'm gonna get through this and look back on it and know that I'm better from it."
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