Islanders captain Anders Lee was announced the winner of this year’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Lee has long rallied support for the fight against cancer, notably the Jam Kancer in the Kan Foundation, inspired by and later in memory and tribute to Fenov Pierre-Louis. As Lee reflected in a post at the Isles official site:
“When I met Fenov Pierre-Louis in 2017, I had no idea how much of an impact he would have on my life. Fenov was a brilliant and inspiring kid who had been battling Stage 4 Neuroblastoma since he was 9 years old.”
- Here’s Newsday’s piece on King Anders.
- Meanwhile, the Islanders’ surprising draft pick swap was enough to initiate a new episode of Islanders Anxiety, as Dan and Mike muse whether it’s gunpowder for paying to make a big contract to away or (ideally) even add a player. [LHH]
- Prospect Report: Isaiah George’s London Knights are off to a 2-0 start at the Memorial Cup. [Isles]
- Fifty(!) freaking years ago in Isles history: Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies are drafted, two picks that would prove monumental. [Isles]
- Kenny Jonsson is named to the IIHF Hall of Fame. [THN]
Elsewhere
- The final four in the NHL playoffs marched on, with the Panthers and Rangers needing overtime for the third consecutive game — but this time, the Panthers scored early in sudden death to tie the series at 2-2.
- Blake Wheeler returned to the Smurfs lineup after a long layoff and…well he had an impact! Took the hooking penalty early in OT that led to Sam Reinhart’s winner. [NHL]
- Should that hooking penalty have been a penalty shot? What would the Panthers prefer? Paul Maurice couldn’t say. [Sportsnet]
- After feeling too “tight” in the first period, the Panthers reset and said just f-ing play. [Sportsnet]
- In the other series, the Stars will try to turn the screw on the Oilers. It’s hard to believe Tyler Seguin has been a Star for over a decade, and a few years ago he wasn’t sure he’d continue playing after dealing with hip and knee injuries. [NHL]
- The Oilers are facing their biggest challenge yet after collapsing in Game 3. [Athletic]
- As expected, Don Waddell has landed in Columbus with all sorts of fancy titles. [NHL]
- Bruce Boudreau holdover Mike Yeo and the Canucks have “mutually agreed to part ways.” [Sportsnet | TSN]
- 42-goal scorer and Stanley Cup hero Jonathan Marchesseault has not had contract extension talks with the Golden Knights, who, um, always do right by their guys. [AP]
- Alex Meruelo still owns the AHL Roadrunners, but they are staying in Tucson against his wishes to move them to Tempe. [Sportsnet]
- New Kraken coach Dan Bylsma says their AHL assistant Jessica Campbell is one of several candidates for the NHL team’s staff. If promoted, that would make her the first woman to serve full-time on an NHL bench. [TSN]
- The tax case against John Tavares (the hockey player, not the lacrosse star) doesn’t just leave $8 million hanging in the balance, it could affect whether Canadian teams can lure free agents with big (lower taxed) signing bonuses. [Sportsnet]
