King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Lore & Background

The trophy was first awarded in 1988 and was presented to the NHL by Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard, who called Clancy 'one of the greatest humanitarians that ever lived'. It honours similar community service as the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award, which was retired in 1984. The similar NHL Foundation Player Award was discontinued for the 2017–18 NHL season, with its associated charitable donation being redirected towards the King Clancy Memorial Trophy instead. Five teams have had more than one player win the award: three members each of the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins have won, while two members each of the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings have also won. Ray Bourque and Dave Poulin won it in consecutive years for the Boston Bruins, and Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba won it in consecutive years for the Minnesota Wild. Players from seven different Canadian teams have won the trophy on 10 of the 28 occasions it has been awarded: three members each from the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks, as well as one each from the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the original Winnipeg Jets.

Reader's Guide

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy recognizes NHL players who combine on-ice leadership with significant humanitarian work in their communities. Its selection by a panel of hockey writers and broadcasters underscores its emphasis on off-ice character. The trophy's connection to the retired Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award and the discontinued NHL Foundation Player Award highlights a longstanding league commitment to community service. The award's history includes notable patterns: Henrik Sedin is the only multiple winner, and he and his brother Daniel are the only joint recipients. Consecutive wins by teammates (Bourque and Poulin for Boston; Zucker and Dumba for Minnesota) show that certain franchises have fostered a culture of community leadership. Canadian teams have been particularly well-represented, with 10 of 28 awards going to players from seven different Canadian clubs. The 2025-26 winner, Marcus Foligno, continues this tradition. The award's legacy is tied to King Clancy's own reputation as a humanitarian, as described by Harold Ballard, and it remains a distinct honor for players who make a difference beyond the rink.

Did You Know?

• Henrik Sedin is the only player who has won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy more than once.
• Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are the only recipients to have won the trophy jointly.

Origins & The Man Behind the Name

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy traces its roots to the life of Francis M. Clancy, a man whose career in hockey spanned multiple roles. He played for both the original Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs before transitioning into coaching, officiating as a referee, and serving as a team executive. His reputation for humanitarian work was so profound that when Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard presented the trophy to the NHL in 1988, he described Clancy as one of the greatest humanitarians that ever lived. The award was designed to carry forward the spirit of community service that Clancy embodied, filling a void left by the retirement of the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award in 1984. That earlier honour had recognized similar contributions to society, and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy effectively inherited its mission. By naming the award after a figure who touched hockey in virtually every capacity—player, coach, official, and executive—the league ensured that the trophy would celebrate not just athletic excellence but the broader human impact a player can have on the world around them.

How the Winner Is Chosen

Each year, the NHL identifies a single player whose conduct extends well beyond the scoreboard. The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded to the individual who most fully embodies leadership both during games and in everyday life, while also demonstrating a meaningful humanitarian contribution to their local community. The selection is not made by a single committee or by the players themselves. Instead, a special panel composed of representatives from two distinct professional bodies—the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and the NHL Broadcasters' Association—convenes to deliberate and choose the recipient. This dual-organization approach ensures that the evaluation draws on perspectives from both the media that covers the league daily and the broadcasters who bring the action to fans. The criteria deliberately pair on-ice leadership with off-ice service, making clear that a player's value to the game is measured not only by statistics but by the tangible good they do for the people around them. This blend of athletic influence and community impact remains the defining standard of the award.

Franchise Patterns & Standout Recipients

Over the 28 occasions the trophy has been presented, certain franchises have stood out as consistent producers of humanitarian leaders. Five teams—Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins—have each seen three different players claim the honour. The Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings have each had two recipients. Consecutive-year wins have occurred twice: Ray Bourque followed by Dave Poulin for Boston, and Jason Zucker followed by Matt Dumba for Minnesota. Canadian representation is notably strong, with players from seven different Canadian teams accounting for ten of the 28 awards. Beyond the three each from Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, single winners have come from the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the original Winnipeg Jets. One player stands apart from all others: Henrik Sedin is the sole individual to have won the trophy more than once. He and his brother Daniel are also the only recipients in the award's history to have shared it jointly, a unique distinction that underscores the Sedins' collective impact on the game and their communities.

Evolution, Consolidation & the Present Day

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy has evolved alongside the NHL's broader approach to recognizing player philanthropy. A significant shift came when the NHL Foundation Player Award was discontinued ahead of the 2017–18 season. Rather than letting the charitable component disappear entirely, the league redirected the associated donation toward the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, effectively strengthening its financial and symbolic weight. This consolidation meant that the humanitarian recognition that had been split across two separate honours now flowed into a single, more prominent award, giving the Clancy trophy a renewed sense of purpose and greater visibility. The award continues to be presented each season, with Marcus Foligno named the recipient for the 2025–26 NHL season. The trophy's journey from its 1988 inception—born from Harold Ballard's admiration for King Clancy's humanitarian legacy—through the absorption of the Foundation Player Award's charitable mission, reflects the league's ongoing commitment to celebrating players who lead not just on the ice but in their communities. The Clancy name remains the anchor of that tradition.