Mikael Backlund, Anders Lee and Darnell Nurse are the finalists for the 2022-23 King Clancy Trophy, the NHL announced on Wednesday.
Each team nominated a player for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, and a group of senior NHL executives narrowed it down to three finalists.
Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund, New York Islanders left winger Anders Lee and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse are the finalists for the trophy, the league announced on Wednesday. The winner is "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community," according to the league.
The criteria that go toward determining a winner include someone who shows a clear and measurable positive impact on the community, investment of time and resources, commitment to a particular cause or community, creativity and engagement.
Backlund and his wife have raised more than $400,000 for the ALS Society of Alberta in honor of his mother-in-law, who passed away due to the disease, and to support Flames AGM Chris Snow, who's fought ALS for the last four years. He is also an ambassador for Kids Cancer Care and Special Olympics Calgary and partnered with Parachutes for Pets along with his wife to create a program that lets children in foster care keep their pets while transitioning into care.
He has invited nearly 100 families and 500 additional guests to home games overall.
On the ice, Backlund has spent his entire NHL career with the Flames so far and is currently one of the alternate captains while the team awaits a new captain.
Lee has been the Islanders' captain since 2018. He's a "jambassador" for Jam Kancer in the Kan, which helps people and families battling cancer, after befriending then-15-year-old cancer patient Fenov Pierre-Louis om 2016. Although Pierre-Louis unfortunately passed away in 2018, Lee continues his legacy through "Kancer Jam" events and funding academic scholarships in his honor.
The Islanders forward has also invited families affected by cancer to home games and helps out during the holiday season with those who struggle financially.
Nurse is an alternate captain for the Oilers, and his leadership also extends far beyond the ice. He's an ambassador for Free Play for Kids, which provides marginalized children with the chance to play sports in a safe and inclusive environment. He's also an ambassador for Right To Play, "which aims to protect, educate and empower children to rise above adversity through sports," said the league release.
In 2021, the defender created the Darnell Nurse Excellence Scholarship to award two scholarships annually to students pursuing post-secondary education. On top of everything else, he supported food banks and healthcare initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic and has sponsored GTHL players.
The winner will be revealed during the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26, with the winner receiving $25,000 to donate to charities of their choice. The runners-up will each get $5,000 to donate as well.