As we approach the finale of the Flyers season on Thursday, there was one last matter of business to take care of at home. And that was the team awards. The team hands out six awards before their final home game of the season.
There are the players who took home each award on the night:
Bobby Clarke Trophy
The Bobby Clarke Trophy is awarded to the Flyers MVP and is chosen by sportswriters and sportscasters around the team.
This award could have gone to more than one player. Travis Konecny seemed like he would be the runaway favorite. He is having a career season with 29 goals, on the cusp of his first 30-goal campaign in the NHL. He needs five points for a new career high in points, something he is unlikely to do with just two games remaining.
It is Carter Hart who takes home his first MVP trophy. He enters the Columbus game having played 54 games, owing a 21-23-10 record, a 2.94 GAA, a 907 SV%, and two shutouts. He has set career highs in games played/started, saves, and shutouts. He has also faced the most shots in a single season.
He is the fifth goaltender in franchise history to skate in 200 career games, a feat he reached on April 8 at the Islanders. Hart opened the season on an eight-game point streak as he went 6-0-2. That made him just the fourth goaltender in franchise history to start a season on such a streak.
Barry Ashbee Trophy
The Barry Ashbee Trophy is awarded to the Flyers’ most outstanding defenseman. This award is also selected by writers and sportscasters.
Having won the award in two of the last three seasons, Ivan Provorov took home the fourth Barry Ashbee Trophy of his career. As long as he plays in Thursday’s season finale, he will have appeared in all 82 games for the fourth time in his seven-year career. He is the only defenseman in franchise history to have skated in all 82 games at least three times.
Provorov has continued to be a workhorse on the backend for the Flyers. He has averaged almost 23 minutes of ice time this season, only playing fewer than 20 minutes in four games. He leads the franchise in blocked shots (1,029) and tied his career-high of 10 blocked shots on Oct. 13, tying the franchise record he set in 2017.
Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award
The Yanick Dupre Class Guy Aware is awarded to the player who illustrates character, dignity, and respect both on and off the ice. That is awarded by the Philadelphia chapter of PHWA.
Justin Braun is in his second stint with the Flyers and has always been the consummate pro on and off the ice. He is often paired with the team’s young defenseman in order to help them learn the ropes in the NHL. The latest example of that is his pairing with Adam Ginning, who is making his NHL debut against Columbus. This is the first time he has won the award.
Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy
The Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player deemed to be the most improved. That is chosen by the Flyers’ players themselves.
This is another award that could’ve gone to a few players. Morgan Frost took a big leap forward this past season en route to a career season. He is one goal away from the first 20-goal campaign of his career. His 24 assists and 43 points are also career highs. He has appeared in a career-high 79 games as well.
Owen Tippett, the winner of this award, looked like he wasn’t going to be able to live up to the hype of a 10th-overall pick. Without much of an opportunity in Florida, he was traded to Philadelphia in the Claude Giroux deal. He showed promise in those 21 games, posting four goals and seven points. But there was still another gear for him to hit.
He has done that and more this season, breaking out for 24 goals and 45 points in 75 games. He ranks second on the team in goals and is currently third in points. He has been one of John Tortorella’s go-to players and has earned heaps of praise throughout the year. Tippett recorded his first NHL hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres on March 17.
Gene Hart Memorial Award
The Gene Hart Memorial Award is given to the player who displays the most heart. That is chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club.
The second of Hart’s three awards is in honor of longtime Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart. The current team’s Hart is certainly worthy of this award as someone who certainly gives it his all whenever he is in the net.
Toyota Cup
The Toyota Cup is the easiest award to decide. It is given to the player who earns the most “stars of the game” each night. Five points are awarded for being selected First Star, three points are awarded for Second Star and one point is awarded for Third Star.
To finish off his award-winning season, Hart was named the first star of the game a total of nine times. He was the second star three times and the third star two times. That gave him a total of 56 points. Toyota will also be making a donation in Hart’s name as the winner of this award, his third time winning it.