Subban of Devils wins King Clancy Trophy

P.K. Subban of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday won the King Clancy Trophy, presented annually to the player or players who best exemplify leadership qualities on and off the ice and have made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in their community.

"It's always a privilege to really receive individual accolades in the NHL," Subban said. "How many great players there are, and how good those players are at what they do and that includes the things they choose to do off the ice. To be amongst not just finalists, but winners of the award is pretty special. I'm probably most excited to accept this award for my personal team and my foundation team. They do a lot of work at times for me when I can't do the work because of my job and they're just as deserving for this award as I am."
Subban won the award for the first time after he was a finalist for a third straight season and fourth time overall. He has been committed to racial and social justice, underserved youth, COVID-19 relief and youth hockey. In 2014, while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, he created the P.K. Subban Foundation and in September 2015 he pledged $10 million over seven years to the Montreal Children's Hospital. Subban also founded Blueline Buddies in 2017 while playing for the Nashville Predators, a program that aims to bridge the gap between law enforcement and local youth. He hosted a virtual meet-and-greet with participants prior to every Devils home game this season.
"Being in Newark and driving to Newark every day and being in that community, you understand that playing for the New Jersey Devils, you are a leader, you're a role model in that community and specifically to the African American community, and I wanted to do something a little bit more specific," Subban said regarding his Blueline Buddies program.
"Even in doing that the program expanded in ways (to include other frontline professions) that I could have never imagined. So going into New Jersey, I went in with an open mind and after three years, I'm really excited, really excited for the work that I've done. … I'm happy with the program, the way it was received. The team embraced it with open arms, and I can't be any more happy with this result."

In March, Subban donated $1 million in support of Le Spot, a mental health clinic in Montreal, and matched donations up to $100,000 to help Ukrainian cancer patients who arrived for life-saving treatments. A finalist for the fourth time (2017-18, 2019-20, 2020-21), Subban was named co-chair for the Player Inclusion Committee in 2020 under the Executive Inclusion Council, which is comprised of NHL owners, former players, and team and League executives and aims to provide solutions that positively impact underrepresented groups in the game.
"Right from the top down ... [the Devils have] been so supportive….I think that they love the things that we've done as a foundation and the message that we send," Subban said. "…Since I've been there, we've all been on the same page. It's really been fun working with the Devils and working with their front office and their team to participate in events, but also in joint initiatives that we do with my foundation. It's been very, very easy, and that's probably why I'm so happy to receive this award. I feel that they deserve it."
Subban was presented the award by Pekka Rinne, who won last season as the goalie for the Predators. Rinne, a former teammate of Subban's in Nashville, retired from the NHL after last season.
Chosen by a committee of senior NHL executives led by Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, Subban received a $25,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice.
Retired Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, the two runners-up, each received a $5,000 donation.
NHL.com staff writer William Douglas contributed to this report