With the last home game for the Philadelphia Flyers approaching on April 16, there will be some individual awards given out to honor those who have been at their best in 2023-24. What is each award, and who deserves each one?
Bobby Clarke “MVP” Award: Travis Konency
Regarding the most valuable player of the Flyers, Travis Konecny is the easy pick for it. Despite playing just 75 games, he leads the Orange and Black in goals (33), assists (35), and points (68), while his plus-6 rating is tied for third. He is somewhat quietly having a near point per game season, and it will make him the Flyers’ top scorer for the fourth time in his last five seasons.
When Konecny is hot, he has the ability to take over a game. He is a pretty dominant player on the rush when that part of the game isn’t neutralized for Philadelphia, which has proven to be an important trait. He has been the only player who has consistently held a top-line role with a forward-high 19:49 average ice time versus 17:49 for the next highest.
Konecny has been trusted in all situations, evidenced by his NHL-high six shorthanded goals. Without him on the team, the Flyers’ suddenly lethal penalty kill isn’t quite as scary anymore. The penalty kill has been fairly solid whoever has been on the ice, but he is the X-factor of it. When he gets breakaways, he rarely makes a mistake.
Konecny is the only true star forward that the Flyers have at this point, so he has been essential to their roster this season. The 27-year-old hasn’t necessarily taken his play to new heights, but he has still been the best that the team has to offer.
Barry Ashbee “Best Defenseman” Award: Cam York
In the early stages of the season, the Flyers’ best defenseman appeared to be Travis Sanheim or potentially even a player like Sean Walker who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline. However, Cam York has taken a big step up in terms of ice time and play recently. Since March 9, a day after the deadline ended, York has the 11th-most ice time among skaters in the entire NHL.
In that time frame, York has a 51.1 expected goals percentage (xGF%) at even strength, which is a pretty impressive mark for a 23-year-old playing first-pairing minutes. This is a season-long award, though, but he still passes that test. He has a 50.3 xGF% with 30 points and a minus-12 rating through 81 contests. He has shown durability and the skill to play wherever…
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