Philadelphia Flyers Mid-Season Awards

Last night the Philadelphia Flyers played their 41st game of the 2013-2014 season. They are now halfway through the season and sit third in the Metropolitan Division at 20-15-6. Like most writers and pundits, I could not resist making mid-season picks for the Flyers team awards. So, if the season ended right now, who would win the team awards? The Flyers team awards are as follows:

The Bobby Clarke Trophy – Team MVP

The Barry Ashbee Trophy – Outstanding Defenseman

Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy – Most Improved Player

Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award – Character/Dignity Off the Ice

Gene Hart Memorial Award – Player Who the Most Demonstrates Heart

For a little bit of added fun, I will add the following “awards” and predictions:

Biggest disappointment thus far

Player most poised to have a great 2nd half

One bold prediction for 2014

Oct 24, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (28) against the New York Rangers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby Clarke Trophy – Claude Giroux

The Flyers captain has asserted himself as the best player on this team. He started the season with only seven points in the first 15 games. Since scoring his first goal against Edmonton, Giroux has earned 30 points in his last 26 games. If Giroux continues at this pace, he will finish the season averaging at least a point per game for the third straight season. It is not only the points that make Giroux the team MVP, but it is the way and time in which he gets them. His game winning goal against Columbus and his breakaway goal against Vancouver are just two examples of Giroux putting the team on his back and leading them to victory.

My runner-up: Steve Mason

Nov 9, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn (5) against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Barry Ashbee Trophy – Braydon Coburn

After his poor play and injury last season, I did not expect much out of Coburn this year. He is not an offensive dynamo and he is prone to making dumb turnovers. However, this season Coburn has been very solid. He still has his share of mistakes and dumb plays, but he is averaging a team high 22:54 per game and logs 3:55 per game on the penalty kill. He has started to use his mobility to move the puck up the ice and has not been shy about jumping into the rush. Coburn is not a #1 defenseman, but among the group the Flyers have, Coburn is undoubtedly the best.

My runner-up: Erik Gustafsson

Sep 27, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) skates off the ice after being cut during a fight with Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (not pictured) in the first period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy – Brayden Schenn

This one is was difficult to pick. Both Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier have shown flashes of brilliance, but have also had periods of sloppy play. There is no player on the Flyers roster who is having a great break out season. However, when comparing both stats and on-ice involvement, Brayden Schenn seems to have taken a step in the right direction. His points per game average is up from .55 to .59, and he is plus (+3) in plus/minus for the first time in his career. Schenn has been shuffled from the wing to center and from center to wing, but has still improved his production. His shooting percentage is up to 11.7%, a jump of 1.6% from his 10.1% average last year. Schenn, who has 77 shots through 41 games, is shooting the puck more than he ever has in his career. His production may not have made a dramatic increase, but he is getting much more involved on the ice.

Mt runner-up: Sean Couturier

Nov 7, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery (29) makes a save as defenseman Hal Gill (75) holds New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Devils defeated the Flyers, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award – Hal Gill

Hal Gill has accepted a drastically reduced role from his previous team and has handled it in a very classy manner. He is not a stud on the blue-line, but he willingly goes in there and gives it his all when he is called upon. His interviews are both informative and humorous. Every indication is that Gill has been an outstanding teammate and a good leader in the locker room.

My runner-up: Kimmo Timonen

Nov 12, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn (22) during warmup prior to game against Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Biggest Disappointment – Luke Schenn

I was not crazy about the JvR-L.Schenn deal when it happened, but Schenn quickly won me over last season. He played with Kimmo Timonen on the Flyers top pairing and was arguably their most steady defenseman of the year (people forget that now). He averaged 21:51 of ice time (second only to Coburn who was injured for the last 15 games) and looked poised to be a top four defenseman on the Flyers for the decade to come. This season he has sank like a rock. He is on the third defense pair, but he was also a healthy scratch for three games. He has been prone to giveaways and is obviously trying to do too much. I am one of the few who still believes he has a future as a top four defenseman, but he needs to simplify his game and get back to what he was doing last season.

My runner-up: Scott Hartnell

October 6, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek (93) smiles before the start of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Hurricanes defeated the Flyers 2-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Player Poised For Great 2nd Half – Jakub Voracek

Through 41 games last season, Voracek had 17 goals. This season, he has just over half of that number, nine. However, I believe Voracek will have a big second half. He has chemistry with Giroux, who is also poised for a big second half (more on that on the next slide), and has too much skill to be held down for a full 82 game season. Voracek is on the Flyers top line and on the top power play unit. He is also starting to shoot the puck more often. Voracek has 106 shots through 41 games (2.6/game), but over the last 12 games he has 40 shots (3.33/game) and that number just keeps going up. As the rest of the season progresses, Voracek will have plenty of opportunities to score.

Dec 28, 2013; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux (28) skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

One Bold Prediction – Claude Giroux will be a Hart Trophy Finalist

I know. Crosby. Getzlaf. Kane. Ovechkin. Tavares. By seasons end, Giroux will be right there with them. I already mentioned his 30 points in the last 26 games, and I predict that Giroux will obliterate that pace in the second half of the season. A large part of why I believe this is because of the Olympic break. Giroux plays better as the stage gets bigger. Giroux will go to Sochi, play with/against the best players in the world, and both his confidence and drive will go through the roof. During and after the Olympics, Giroux will be out to prove that he is, as Peter Laviolette once called him, the best hockey player in the world.

And if, for some strange reason, Giroux is left off of Team Canada… well then the rest of the NHL better watch out. He will be on a mission.