The Vegas Golden Knights have their sights set on hoisting another Stanley Cup in June, but two of their best players have been nominated for two prominent awards.
Forward Jack Eichel was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, while forward Tomas Hertl was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
According to the NHL, the King Clancy Trophy signifies the player who best shows leadership qualities on and off the ice and makes a positive contribution to their community. Meanwhile, the Masterton Trophy indicates the player who best showcases perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey.
Eichel’s case for the King Clancy Trophy
Since arriving in Vegas in 2021, Eichel has not only blossomed as one of the NHL’s elite players, but he has become a pillar in the community.
This nomination is Eichel’s second straight season being nominated for the award, highlighting his impact in making Las Vegas a better place. After Reilly Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, Eichel took over as captain of the Battle for Las Vegas charity softball game. Eichel also started the JE9 Hockey Camp in Las Vegas to grow the game out in the desert, and he has also done noteworthy work with charities such as Best Buddies Nevada and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Hertl’s case for the Bill Masterton Trophy
2024 was a trying year for Hertl, who started last season as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
In February, Hertl had to remove loose cartilage from his left knee and decided to have surgery. A month later, in the final hours of that year’s trade deadline, Hertl was traded for the first time in his career to the Golden Knights. The transition to a new team and system was not seamless for the Czech forward, who struggled to the end of the season.
However, Hertl’s positive attitude and a full offseason to get himself acclimated to his new team has paid off.
This season, Hertl has looked much more like the player the Golden Knights expected to receive when they got him from San Jose. He is second on the team with 31 goals on the year, including leading the Golden Knights with 14 power play goals. He has missed the last eight games to a shoulder injury after a hit by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg on March 23, but Hertl is expected back for the playoffs, which hopefully goes smoother on his second go-around.
Both players are deserving of these high honors, and they have shown excellence both on the ice and in the Las Vegas community.
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