During the last home game of each season, the Philadelphia Flyers hand out a list of team awards. As you will see below, there are six awards that range from team MVP to most improved. The Flyers have a very young and talented core that likely is not going anywhere, and with general manager Chuck Fletcher currently hitting snooze on free agents, we can begin looking at how each guy is going to impact the team. The first way to do this: predict the six team award winners for the 2020-2021 season.
Award: Barry Ashbee Trophy
Significance: Flyers' Best Defenseman
Predicted winner: Philippe Myers
Look, if we're being honest, Ivan Provorov could probably win this award every year. He's the reigning champ of this award, and his nightly impact and consistency are going to be key in the Flyers making any type of deep playoff run. However, Philippe Myers will be the difference-maker in this defense. After the retirement of Matt Niskanen, the Flyers will be looking for one of their young studs to make the next leap forward.
In 2019-2020, Myers picked up 16 points in 50 games, with 4 points in 16 playoff games (including a game-winner against the Islanders). Myers played his first actual season (for the most part) and showed how dominant he can be. His 6'5, 210-pound stature yet remarkable speed makes it tough for opponents to get anywhere behind him, and he is a forced to be reckoned with. Even though he's still awaiting a new contract, Myers should take his game to the next level now that he has nearly an entire (non COVID) season under his belt for his career totals.
Award: Yanick Dupre Memorial
Significance: Class Guy
Prediction Winner: Kevin Hayes
HOLLLYYYYYWOOOODDD!!!
Kevin Hayes has become an instant fan favorite in Philadelphia. Now, I know that being a fan favorite does not necessarily mean you are the classiest guy in the locker room. However, have you seen what Hayes has done to the Flyers' locker room dynamic?
Since joining the team, Hayes has brought what seemed like a much-needed sense of humor to the team. Scott Laughton took home the award this past season for one of his two team awards on the year, but Hayes is primed to win it next year. Whether it is cracking jokes on the bench, participating in community service events, or scoring goals on the ice, Hayes is an all-around good guy.
Award: Gene Hart Award
Significance: Work Ethic and Dedication
Predicted Winner: Ivan Provorov
Personally, I really wanted to give this award to Oskar Lindblom, but I'll save him for later. I know Laughton won two awards last season, but for the sake of this article, we'll keep it to one apiece.
The Russian machine has played in 337 straight games. Between 315 regular-season games and 22 playoff games, Provy has failed to miss a single game. There shouldn't have to be much explanation in this one because that alone should show his dedication and work ethic.
If you require more of an explanation, Provy never stopped the grind during the pandemic break. There were reports of his skating at his private, home rink in Wilkes-Barre thanks to his billet family. His motor never stops, and he deserves this award more than anyone if he keeps up his hockey first mentality.
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Photo Credit: Alex Mcintyre
Award: Pelle Lindbergh Memorial
Significance: Flyers' Most Improved Player
Prediction: Joel Farabee
Last season, Scott Laughton took this award home. To put this into context, he went from 0.39 points per game in 2018-2019 to 0.55 per game in 2019-2020 despite battling a few injuries. Aside from the numbers, Laughton made his presence known each time he was on the ice and battled alongside whatever teammates he was placed as well. He, like Michael Raffl, is a true team player.
Very similar to Laughton two seasons ago, Farabee posted a 0.41 point per game average in 2019-2020. During his rookie season, it looked like Farabee was trying to find the type of player he wanted to be. We saw him put up points in streaks, and also go into point droughts where he would try making his presence known by laying hits and fighting. He started to show his grit while simply trying to prove he deserved to be in the lineup.
In 2020-2021, I think we see Farabee take the leap and truly find his style of play. If I were to predict it, assuming the league plays an 82 game season, Farabee can definitely put up 55-60 points if he begins to play a JVR-style role for the offense.
Another player I was debating on taking this trophy was Nic Aube-Kubel. Kubel is another Scott Laughton style player who can play anywhere in the lineup. NAK had 15 points in 36 regular-season games, and then three in 13 playoff games. Either of these guys could be a real difference-maker in the Flyers' offense this season.
Award: Toyota Cup
Significance: Most Game Star Selections on team (chosen based off of a points system)
Predicted Winner: Carter Hart
Last season, we saw Travis Konecny take home this award. There was one face that was a very close second though, and that face was Carter Hart.
Hart's significance to the Flyers' success is no secret. Hart showed little signs of a sophomore slump right before the Christmas break, but his "slump" is nowhere near what we think a slump would be. It's amazing how much a good goaltender can mean to a team, and Hart is simply that guy.
After winning 24 of his 40 starts, while having a .914 save percentage and a fantastic 2.42 GAA, Hart is primed to continue improving his career numbers. Now that he has even more experience under his belt, Hart is going to have a career year once again. With some help from the Flyers' defense, he's going to improve his numbers on the road and put himself into the elite conversation after 2020-2021. With all of this said, Hart will find himself in the players of each game quite often.
Award: Bobby Clarke Trophy
Significance: Flyers' Team MVP
Predicted Winner: Sean Couturier
Where do I start here? There has only been one guy not named Jake Voracek, Claude Giroux, or Sean Couturier to win this award since 2010, and that was Wayne Simmons. There are so many options to think of here: Does that trend continue? Will TK continue his offensive surge? Does another guy take a TK-like leap? Does Hart do more than enough and single-handedly carry this team? Will there be a trade or free-agent signing that is the elite goal scorer fans have always wanted?
Honestly, all of those sound realistic. And they all likely need to happen if the Flyers want to make a run at Lord Stanley's cup.
However, I think that the Flyers' veterans will have one last hoo-rah at holding this team together. Coots will be coming off a Selke-winning season, and I think his two-way dominance will continue. The newly named father will be taking the off season to spend time with his kid after the pandemic stole that time away this summer, and I think Coots will use that only to motivate him. A year from now, I do not think these vets will be still in team MVP talk, but Giroux and Coots still have plenty to play for on this team, and will continue their leadership as well.
Photo Credit: Alex Mcintyre
