It’s that time of year again! The Brotherly Puck Awards are here! All members of the Brotherly Puck and Brotherly Pod staff were given a vote and the awards were handed out on the orange carpet!
Mike Knuble Most Improved Award
Staff vote- Jamie Drysdale
It’s been a slow but gradual increase for Drysdale ever since he arrived in Philly, but we’re finally starting to see some of the patience pay off. He played the most TOI of his career, set a new personal best in goals and tied his previous career high in points all while being a competent defenseman as well.
Kimmo Timonen MVP Award
Staff vote- Dan Vladar
This was a unanimous vote. Simply put, Vladar saved the Flyers’ season by being the only consistently reliable player on the roster and giving the team the best goaltending they’ve had in years.
Simon Gagne Offensive Player of the Year
Staff vote- Trevor Zegras
Remember when we at Brotherly Puck vouched for Zegras over the years? If not, it’s here, here and here.
Anyway, the Flyers finally added a young, dynamic forward that can actually play center and he ends up being the most electric player the roster has had in a long time. Who’da thunk?
Samuel Morin Defensive Player of the Year
Staff vote- Jamie Drysdale
The Flyers probably acquired Drysdale for more of his offensive capabilities than what he was showing defensively in Anaheim, but with the help of Brad Shaw, John Tortorella and Rick Tocchet, Drysdale is starting to carve a role out for himself on the blue line and is currently the team’s top right-handed defenseman.
Steve Mason Goaltender of the Year
Staff vote- Dan Vladar
I mean, who else was going to get this award?
Richards/Carter Duo of the Year
Staff vote- Rick Tocchet & His Soapbox
Tocchet has said that he doesn’t listen to podcasts, but he sure loves talking on them. Whether it be his buddies on Spittin’ Chiclets, or various Flyers podcasts at the carnival, or even just his own press conferences, Tocchet sure loves the smell of his own farts because his opinions he won’t shut up about mostly stink.
Eric Desjardins Unsung Hero Award
Staff vote- Noah Cates
Cates had a career year in goals and points while remaining a solid two-way presence as well. He’s one of the least polarizing guys on the roster and thus, won’t draw the public attention good or bad, but he’s still a key member of the Flyers’ bottom six.
Ilya Bryzgalov Most Quotable
Staff vote- Rick Tocchet
“They were nervous” being Tocchet’s slogan after every loss and calling Matvei Michkov out of shape throughout most of the season. He’s not quite as exciting as John Tortorella calling people toilet seats, but Tocchet is easily the most memorable talker on the team this season.
Gritty WTF Moment
Staff vote- Making the playoffs
That 3.8% chance that the franchise ultimately used as a battle cry is a pretty impressive stat nonetheless. They went 22-8-1 after the Olympics to clinch a playoff spot, and got plenty of help from teams like Columbus, Detroit and the Islanders who just all decided they didn’t want to play hockey anymore. But if you told anybody in January that this team was going to make the playoffs, you’d be laughed out of the building.
Wayne Simmonds Leadership Award
Staff vote- Dan Vladar
The goaltender may not be wear a letter on his sweater, but it’s clear that he took the reins of the team and the rest of the roster rallied around his stellar performances. None of this would’ve happened without Vladar.
Brotherly Puck Contributor of the Year
Staff vote- Manny Benevides
Manny’s super in-depth junior prospect report returned this year keeping tabs on all the notable young guns in the CHL providing assessments you won’t get anywhere else!
Brotherly Pod Co-Host of the Year
Staff vote- Katie Bogan & Phyllis Ceci
For the first time in the history of Sisterly Pod, the ladies made it though an entire season without having to change co-hosts or something tragic happening to someone involved with the brand! The Flyers coverage mixed with some off-the-cuff comedy is a mix you won’t get anywhere else!
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 