The NHL has nominated San Jose Sharks forward Luke Kunin for this season's King Clancy Award.

The NHL has nominated San Jose Sharks forward Luke Kunin for this season's King Clancy Award.

The award is given "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."

Kunin, who has type one diabetes, has helped raise money with his LKT1D fund. This season, Kunin launched merchandise sold at Sharks Ice facilities, of which 50% of the proceeds went to his fund. 

His leadership on the ice has become unquestioned. He became an alternate captain after the trade deadline and has only deserved that honor more since then. 

Mikael Granlund played with Kunin in two places before San Jose: the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild. After a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on April 7th, Granlund praised his fellow captain highly.

"He brings that every single night. This is my third team with him. We were in Minnesota and Nashville and now here. He's an absolute team guy. I love the guy. Everybody loves him," Granlund said. "What he brings, he brings the physicality. He does the right things on the ice all the time. That's what you need and those are the type of guys I think this organization needs as well."

Head coach David Quinn has sung the praise of his winger all season. 

"I said this between the second and third. We need more people doing that. And I'm not saying fighting; I mean playing with an edge and being all in," Sharks coach David Quinn said after the loss to Arizona. "It can't always be him. Right. It's got to be other people. On top of being a good player, that's what makes him such a valuable player for us or any team that he's on, and he's been that way his whole life."

Each team had one player named as a King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee.

To donate to Luke's LKT1D Fund, CLICK HERE.

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