Everyone knows by now of how hard the Flyers have fought and clawed all season. From the first drop of the puck season, this team has given max effort on most nights. Yes they are not talented enough to make the next jump into the playoffs, however, this offseason is a big one for Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere. Now let’s see our guesses for the team awards that will be handed out tonight before the game.
MVP (Bobby Clarke Trophy)- Travis Konecny
Best Defenseman (Barry Ashbee)- Rasmus Ristolainen, honorable mention Travis Sanheim
Nice Guy/Class Act (Yanick Dupre)- Nick Seeler
Most Improved (Pelle Lindbergh)- Noah Cates, honorable mentions Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale
Most Heart (Gene Hart)- Matvei Michkov
Flyers Alumni Community Leadership Award- Garnet Hathaway
Toyota Cup Winner- Travis Konecny
Samuel Ersson
The young 25-year-old, 6’2 194 pound, Samuel Ersson has had a bit of a roller coaster season. Unfortunately, he’s been up and down and it all started when he first got hurt back in late October. Ersson came back from that injury, and sustained another injury shortly thereafter. He was on the shelf the majority of the first two to three months of the season.
He just wants to win as many games as possible, but in reality the Flyers Goaltending as a whole have not done the team justice this season. It really has been a weak link for the majority of the season for the orange and black in this category.
rsson wears his heart on his sleeve, however, and performed well at the Four Nations Faceoff Tournament.
“I think he’s handled himself so well this year,” John Tortorella said of Ersson earlier in the season.
Noah Cates
Cates should win the most improved player award easily. It is a well-deserved one for Cates. He doesn’t take many penalties, and Cates rarely places his team in a bad position. For his efforts, he registered his 16th goal of the season this past Sunday.
Believe it or not, Cates has reached a new career high in goals with 16, and has more than doubled his points from the prior season by 20. He currently has 36 points on the season, which is just two points away from his career high of 38 set two years ago. Cates really does it all in both zones, and he has formed one of the most consistent lines for the orange and black on a nightly basis with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster.
Travis Konecny
Of course, Konecny is at the forefront answering questions for his teammates, and he is always there for his teammates.
Konecny has had a good season, even with his offense struggling a bit for about a month or so, following the Four Nations Faceoff Tournament. He really has quieted his naysayers this season for the most part. Moreover, he really has become a Force on a line with Sean Couturier and in up and coming Superstar, rookie sensation Matvei Michkov.
“As far as Konecny’s game, I don’t need to explain it to you guys,” Tortorella said earlier in the year. “He leaves it on the ice all the time. I’m putting him in, we depend on him. Does he make mistakes? Yeah, but I’m going to go with him. I have a good feeling of who he is. He’s done some really good things for us.”
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