The NHL has announced their 32 nominees from each team for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy that is awarded to “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
The Philadelphia Flyers’ nominee is none other than the only player who sported a letter on their jersey this season and is also an alternate captain for Team Canada at the World Championships, Scott Laughton – for the third consecutive season.
Laughton is a 10-year veteran for the Flyers, who drafted him in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. It took him a few years to finally get his feet at the NHL-level as he had to deal with injuries and sporadic play, however he has truly turned a corner in the last 4-5 years, and has positioned himself as a vocal leader on and off the ice for a Flyers team that has desperately lacked initiative in that time span.
With Claude Giroux out of the picture and the Flyers being ushered into a new “era” so to speak, Laughton put himself out there as the leader and is finally being recognized for it.
When posed about the nomination and how felt about it, Laughton chimed in and said,
“It’s a huge honor for myself to be very involved in the community where I was drafted, grown up, and now live. A lot of credit goes to my wife, Chloe, who’s such a big part of this. The nomination is something that means a lot to me and I’m very grateful because Philadelphia has given me so much and I want to always give back. Giving back, being a part of this community and to be a voice for various groups and organizations, I take great pride in it, and I believe is part of our responsibility.”
Interim general manager, Daniel Brière, was extremely excited and proud about Laughton’s nomination as well.
“It’s well deserved to see Scott be named our Flyers nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. I was really happy with how Scott played this season and how he emerged as a leader in the locker room, both on and off the ice, especially leading the way for our younger group of guys. His dedication to the city of Philadelphia and surrounding communities is unmatched and an honour to watch him connect with so many of our great fans.”
Off the ice, Laughton has represented the Flyers for the LGBTQ+ community and served as the ambassador for the Flyers’ “Hockey is For Everyone” and the NHL’s “You Can Play” programs. During the season, alongside James van Riemsdyk, they welcomed over 100 members of the LGBTQ+ community into the confines of the Wells Fargo Center for 20 home games. On top of all of that, Laughton has also committed himself as an official ambassador for Alphabet Sports Collective, which is a Canadian based, queer-led non-profit organization.
His community outreach also had him involved with the Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia as he became an “RMHC Companion”, and in doing so donated to the Guest Chef Program and had guests from his wedding donate to the Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia instead of receiving gifts. Laughton has also had his hand in the ring with donations in support of cancer treatments, funeral services, Salvation Army’s Holiday Toy Drive, Amazon wish lists, and a few military related events.
On the ice, Laughton enjoyed a career season with 18 goals, 25 assists, 43 points, 5 power play goals, 3 shorthanded goals, 4 power play assists, 4 shorthanded assists, 170 shots on goal, averaged 18:17 of ice time per game, and racked up 57 blocks and 156 hits – all career-highs. He is the utility knife who plays in all situations, can play either wing or centre if need be, has been used all over the lineup from the top-line to fourth-line duties, and finally got his first real taste of power play action.
He is the engine of the Flyers at times, his offensive abilities have flashed for long stretches, and even with very limited talent around him, he did a fantastic job this season in making lemonade with the lemons provided.
The winner of the award is decided by senior NHL executives, headed by Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. As they narrow down the field from 32 to 3, they look at: Clear and measurable positive impact on the community, investment of time and resources, commitment to a particular cause or community, commitment to the League’s community initiatives, creativity of programming, and use of influence.
The winner will be revealed at the NHL Awards Show on the 26th of June in Nashville with the winner receiving $25,000 for a charity of their choice. The runner-ups will each receive $5,000 for a charity of their choice – so no one goes home empty-handed.
The Flyers have not had a previous winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which has been handed out on a yearly basis since 1987-88.
