Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was named the team’s nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Tuesday.
This award is presented annually to the player who best demonstrates leadership on and off the ice and who has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution within his community. The King Clancy Trophy was first handed out following the 1987-88 season and given to Lanny McDonald.
Should Marner win this award, he would be the second Leaf in franchise history to do so. Curtis Joseph won the trophy during the 1999-2000 season. This marks the second time Marner was nominated for this award, with the previous instance being the 2019-20 campaign which ultimately went to Matt Dumba.
Marner is certainly a worthy nominee for this award as not only has he established himself as one of the leaders on the Leafs for a number of years, but he also does a lot of work in the community. He established the Marner Assist Foundation, which aims to provide sustainable change for the youth through social care, health, and education. This includes hosting the annual Marner All-Star Invitational, which the event has raised over $2 million since the first event in 2018 to help provide resources for children in under-resourced communities and is set to host another event this July.
On the ice, Marner has certainly cemented himself as a leader who can do it all. He has been tasked with playing in all situations as a forward, quarterbacking the Leafs’ power play, played a game as a defenceman, and even making some saves as an acting goalie when the net is pulled. No matter what the situation is on the ice, there is a good chance #16 will be out there looking to make an impact.
He is in the midst of a contract season where has put himself within striking range of reaching the century mark for the first time in his career. Heading into Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, Marner leads the Leafs in scoring with 99 points (26 goals and 73 assists) which also has him tied with Connor McDavid for fifth in the NHL in points.
