2019 NHL Awards Open Thread

The 2019 NHL Awards are being held in Las Vegas, and the festivities get underway on NBCSN in the U.S., and Sportsnet in Canada at 8:00 p.m.

Henrik Lundqvist is the only member of the New York Rangers who is in the running for an award, and he is a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial trophy alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jason Zucker.

Per the NHL’s release, the selection committee applies the following criteria in determining the finalists and winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy:

• 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 (Hockey is for Everyone, Hockey Fights Cancer, Future Goals, Learn to Play, NHL Green, etc.)

• Creativity of programming

• Use of influence; engagement of others

Here is why Lundqvist was nominated for the award:

Through the fundraising efforts and community outreach of the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation (HLF), the charitable organization he founded in 2014 with his wife, Therese, Henrik Lundqvist continues to improve the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services. The four HLF community partners – New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald Barnfond in Sweden, Together for Betterand Garden of Dreams Foundation -- and HLF’s own program, the HLF Young Ambassador Program -- all were recipients of Foundation donations in 2018-19. To date, HLF has directly given grants and made commitments of nearly $1 million supporting children’s health and education. Lundqvist serves as a spokesperson for Garden of Dreams, visits with children and their families from Garden of Dreams partner organizations in “Henrik’s Crease” for Rangers games at Madison Square Garden and supports the Rangers’ Hockey Fights Cancer and Hockey is for Everyone initiatives.

Please use this as your open thread, and if you are watching; enjoy!