Rinne Named Finalist for King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Pekka Rinne is one step closer to adding one more accolade to his repertoire.
After being named Nashville's nominee for the honor back on May 18, the goaltender is now a finalist for the
2021 King Clancy Memorial Trophy
, which is presented annually "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."
The 38-year-old Rinne, who has always had a passion for making the city of Nashville and Middle Tennessee a better place, has been named a finalist for the Clancy after he was nominated for the award for the third consecutive season.

A Vezina Trophy winner in 2018 as the NHL's top goaltender, Rinne is a finalist for the Clancy for the first time in his career, joining forward Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban as the only other Preds player to be a Clancy finalist in franchise history.
A staple with the organization for more than a decade, Rinne holds all-time, regular-season and playoff goaltending records in virtually every category with the Preds. He is the winningest Finnish goaltender in NHL history and one of only 20 goalies in League history to own at least 300 victories and 50 shutouts.
But perhaps more impressive than his on-ice contributions as the best player in Predators history - and the top Finnish goaltender to ever play the game - Rinne has adopted Nashville as his second home and has worked tirelessly to give back to the people who make Middle Tennessee such a special place.
Most notably, alongside former captain Shea Weber, Rinne formed the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily, which raises money and awareness for childhood cancer research at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

In his very first full season with the team, after meeting Mike, a man with Down Syndrome, Rinne also fostered a relationship with Best Buddies that he has continued to keep to this day. Additionally, Rinne's commitment to Make-A-Wish, the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's and a number of initiatives throughout the coronavirus pandemic has brought joy and hope to people young and old throughout the community.
A selection committee, led by senior NHL executives, Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly have determined the finalists, and the winner will possess the following qualities: a clear and measurable positive impact on the community, investment of time and resources, a commitment to a particular cause or community, commitment to the League's community initiatives, creativity of programming, use of influence and engagement of others.
The first-place finisher will receive a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice, while the two runners-up each will receive a $5,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy was first presented in 1988 by the NHL's Board of Governors in honor of Frank "King" Clancy, a beloved figure in the League for decades as a player, referee, coach, manager and goodwill ambassador. A three-time Stanley Cup champion and 1958 inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Clancy was voted as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League's Centennial Celebration in 2017.
Rinne, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer,
said Wednesday he has not yet made a decision on his future
, but Predators General Manager David Poile stated Thursday he and the Preds would be happy to welcome Rinne back for another season.