It’s no secret that the Flyers have suffered a disappointing set back in a season which was once filled with high expectations before the season began. Low and behold Flyers awards will still be handed tonight before the Flyers play in their final home game of the season, and last game of the season for that matter. Without further delay here are my predictions for Flyers awards this season:
Barry Ashbee (Best Defenseman)- Justin Braun
Pelle Lindbergh (Most Improved)- Joel Farabee
Yanick Dupre (PHWA Class Guy)- Brian Elliott
Gene Hart (Work Ethic & Dedication)- Scott Laughton
Bobby Clarke (MVP)- Claude Giroux
Justin Braun has been the most steadiest and consistent defenseman for the Flyers this season. The average age on the backend is 25.83-years-old, with Braun being the veteran presence as he is 34-years-old. Braun has been one heck of a competitor, and his tutelage is being used for the young Cam York.
Farabee has proven to the fans of Philadelphia that he would not enter a sophomore slump, and that he is the next budding star in Philadelphia in terms of athletes. Drafted by the Flyers in 2018 at 14th overall, Farabee has played a 200 foot game, and is just so darn good at killing penalties. What Farabee brings is skating, and his confidence is showing this season. Farabee can skate at top speed to push the play up the ice. He’s proven time and time again he is an excellent skater, with the agility and edge work to get by defenders in one-on-one situations, and he has a great first step. Farabee is an outstanding playmaker off the wing, who possesses great vision of the ice. He is also a good defender. Farabee remains focused and poised at killing penalties, and has a keen good hockey sense. Farabee has enjoyed a career year with 18 goals (Leads Team), and 18 assists for 36 points.
Elliott became the Flyers fourth Goaltender to eclipse the 500 game mark. “The Moose” just goes about his business when his number is called. Has this season been easy for him or the team for that matter…No, but Elliott is a warrior and does whatever is possible to give his team a lift. Elliott is carrying the heavy lifting right now with Carter Hart on the shelf for the rest of the season. The Moose cannot play in five or six games straight anymore, but he will be relied upon when his number is called, and he has proven that this season and last for that matter.
Laughton has been working his tail off consistently throughout the entire season. He’s like the energizer bunny, Laughton never takes a shift off. He hits, creates some scoring opportunities, and just busts his butt every single shift. Laughton is one of those players that every team covets, mainly because of his versatility to play any position, and move up and down the lineup if need be, “I think as a player you always want to try to get to that next level,” Laughton said earlier in the season, “I believe last year was a good stepping stone for me to be more comfortable on the ice and making plays and playing up and down the lineup. I know AV likes to use his third and fourth lines and line matching and all that and on draws. Hopefully we can put trust in him and go out and do a good job. I feel good on the ice and I’m excited to get this thing rolling.”
It’s no secret to anyone who follows the Flyers on a regular basis, that Claude Giroux is a vital part to the teams overall success. As Giroux goes, so do the orange and black. Giroux is the engine that runs the Flyers. Even with all his overall success throughout his career statistics wise, there are still some people that don’t give him the respect he rightfully deserves because he has not lead his team to a Stanley Cup.
In hindsight, it’s very tough to win one of the most coveted trophies in all of sports, but hopefully one day Giroux will command his troops to a Stanley Cup victory. Even so much so, Giroux is hoping it will be with the orange and black:
“To play for one team your whole career, that’s something to be proud of. If I can, that’d be great.”– Claude Giroux
Giroux has not gotten worse with age, rather he has gotten better with age. This season he has been a work-horse, and he has tallied 16 goals, and registered 25 assists in 53 games played. He has not packed it in, even when the Flyers have been at their worst this season.
All of these players are deserving of these awards in a down season. At the end of the day hopefully the Flyers can come back strong next season.
