Philadelphia Flyers: Predicting the Team Awards for 2011-12

With five games remaining this season, the Flyers are preparing themselves for another exciting playoff run. However, before the postseason begins, it is worth reflecting on a regular season that saw the team through its share of trials and tribulations, suffering and surprises.

It is hard to pick one storyline for the Flyers, as this season's success has come on so many different fronts. The goaltending went from hot to cold back to hot; the defense saw the loss of a number of key players at various points this season; the offense was shockingly potent after key players were lost in the offseason.

Before the last home game of the regular season, the Flyers will present their team awards to the most deserving members of the Flyers.

Here are the players most deserving of each annual award.

Yanick Dupre Memorial

The Award: Given to the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport both on and off the ice.

Past winners include Brian Boucher, Sami Kapanen and Keith Primeau.

The Winner: Braydon Coburn.

Coburn and his wife, Nadine, are extremely active in Flyers charities, including the Flyers Wives Carnival. He and Nadine can regularly be seen promoting excellent causes off the ice.

Teammate Scott Hartnell has an equally worthy reputation when it comes to charitable acts, but Hartnell’s on-ice behavior isn’t exactly a beacon of character.

Honorable Mention: Scott Hartnell

Gene Hart Memorial Award

The Award: Given to the Flyer who has the best rapport with the fans, as determined by the official Flyers fan club.

Past winners include Claude Giroux, Ian Laperriere and Scott Hartnell.

The Winner: Scott Hartnell.

Hartnell became famous on Twitter for his adoption of the “#Hartnelldown” trend, turning it into a charitable cause. He further became a fan favorite for his production, toughness and self-deprecating nature over the course of 2011-12.

Honorable Mention: Jaromir Jagr

Pelle Lindbergh Memorial

The Award: Given to the Flyer who has most improved from the previous season, as voted by his teammates.

Past winners include Andreas Nodl, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn.

The Winner: Scott Hartnell.

Players like Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier would be favorites if they had played for the Flyers last season, based on their production. But, while the award tends to go to young players, it is impossible to deny Scott Hartnell's impact on the team. Hartnell has set career highs in goals and points and is an assist away from tying his career high in the category as well.

At the season's opening, Hartnell looked like a potential scapegoat for any obstacles the Flyers faced. Instead, he has become a Philly hero.

Honorable Mention: Zac Rinaldo

Barry Ashbee Trophy

The Award: Given to the team’s most outstanding defenseman.

Past winners include Andrej Meszaros, Eric Desjardins and Kimmo Timonen.

The Winner: Kimmo Timonen.

In Chris Pronger’s absence, the Flyers defense was expected to suffer, but the workhorse Kimmo Timonen kept a battered defensive corps together throughout the season. Injuries, trades and call-ups made playing defense for the Flyers an unpredictable task, but Timonen’s leadership limited the impact of the turmoil.

Honorable Mention: Matt Carle

Bobby Clarke Trophy

The Award: Given to the team’s most valuable player.

Past winners include Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne and Eric Lindros.

The Winner: Claude Giroux.

Currently sitting third in the league in points, Giroux began the season as a 23-year-old being asked to fill the shoes of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and become a leader for an offense that consisted largely of players with less experience than the young Giroux.

A force on both ends of the ice, a contributor on special teams and a respected leader in the locker room, Giroux is the one player on the roster that the team truly could not have succeeded without.

Honorable Mention: Scott Hartnell