The Flyers have announced their in-team awards for the season. Yes, I know, it was a miserable season. Why should there be awards?

In some ways, it’s a valid point. Being the best of (among) the worst is hardly bragging rights. But that’s a cynical way to look at things. In some ways, I can’t help but respect people who have the independent drive to be the best they can be… despite a miserable environment around them.

It’s easy to want to be a good for a team who is good and an environment that is good (and fun.)

Motivation comes cheap for those who are in an ideal setting. But for those who are forced to start “playing out the string” by the All-Star break? How do they stay motivated?

Well, I say let’s honor the ones who manage it. Here’s a list of who won the awards in aggragate:

Here’s my thoughts on each of the three major awards:

Bobby Clarke Trophy (Team MVP): Carter Hart

Obvious pick. Carter Hart has spent the majority of this season has a top-5 goalie in the NHL by goals saved above expected.

When accounting for a goalie’s environment, he’s spent the entire year being one of the league’s top goaltenders. At 24 years old, he’s already beginning to deliver on the prodigal promise he had at draft day.

This is natural for any goaltender, but Hart has long dealt with exalted expectations and unfairly accelerated timelines after forcing his way into the starter’s crease as a 20 year old.

Carter isn’t a top 5 goalie right this second. MoneyPuck currently has him 15th with 10.6 goals saved above expected, just a tick off Oettinger’s 10.7 saved above expected.

After dealing with two separate injury stretches, his numbers took a justifiable hit.

And guess what? After spending all year on this miserable hockey, he still grades out as above average.

Yeah. Easy choice.

Travis Konecny also deserves some attention, though. Being a near point-per-game player on this team? No small feat. But he’s a distant second in my eyes.

Barry Ashbee Trophy (Best Defenseman): Ivan Provorov

HUH?! WHAT?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!

I don’t want to frame Ivan Provorov’s nomination as this year’s Barry Ashbee recipient as some battle between the eye test and advanced stats.

I always thought the eye-test and the stats were in full agreement that he’s been decidedly “not good” this season.

What’s the counter argument? That he’s been on the ice a lot? Sure, but given that he’s sucked in most of these voluminous minutes anyway… who the hell cares?

His 45% xG share and 42% actual goal share, though, apparently deserve recognition?

What is Ivan Provorov the best at on this team? Seriously?

The best at passing the puck to the other team?

You ask me? The real best defenseman on this has obviously been Cam York.

Pelle Lindberg Trophy (Most Improved Player): Owen Tippett

This is a fair choice. Owen Tippett is sitting at 24 goals, on the verge of 25. His previous high was just 10.

He’s been one of the young players who has really stepped up as the year has gone on, and produced some exciting highlight reel moments on a team that doesn’t usually have those.

Unlike Hart for MVP, I don’t think this was quite the most obvious choice. Rather, just one of a few acceptable answers.

Tippett—to his credit—has been improved from day 1 of this season.

Morgan Frost, on the other hand, has improved dramatically from within the season. He’s sitting at 19 goals and 43 points, which is only 2 points short of Tippett.

What really earns him consideration though? Almost all of these points have come after the month of December.

37 of his 43 points have come in 52 games since December 8th. That’s fantastic in season improvement.

Tippett is a great pick, though. But Frost could just as easily make a claim.

Noah Cates, as well, could be considered. But a lot of his defensive excellence was also on display last season, so I see his improvement as an iota less profound than the other two.

Mandatory credit: Flyers Twitter