PHILADELPHIA – Prior to Tuesday night’s final game of the season, the Flyers announced their 2023-24 annual awards.
Travis Konecny was recipient of the Bobby Clarke Trophy for most valuable player.
Travis Sanheim took home the Barry Ashbee Trophy for best defenseman.
Cam York received the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy for most improved player.
Nick Seeler was winner of the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award for character, dignity and respect for the game.
Samuel Ersson picked up the Gene Hart Memorial Award for playing with the most “heart” this season, as voted by the team’s fan club.
Scott Laughton was named the Flyers Alumni Community Leadership Award winner.
/n
Konecny enjoyed the best season of his career. Entering Tuesday night’s game, he had registered new highs for goals (32), points (68), plus shorthanded goals (six, which leads the NHL), shorthanded points (seven) and shots (237). He also led the Flyers in game-winning goals (five) and first goals of the game seven).
The London, Ontario, native recorded his 400th career NHL point on April 13 against the New Jersey Devils, tallied his 200th career NHL assist on Dec. 16 vs. Detroit and skated in his 500th career NHL game on Nov. 4 vs. Los Angeles.
The right-shot winger represented the Flyers at the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, his second career all-star appearance, and was named an alternate captain for the first time in his career on Feb. 14.
Konecny also won his second Toyota Cup for accumulating the most points associated with being selected in “star of the game” voting. He finished with a total of 54 points.
Sanheim won his second Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers’ top defenseman. The 28-year-old registered 44 points, three game-winning goals, five power-play points, four shorthanded points and 144 shots in 80 games this season.
He leads the team in average time on ice per game (23:48), ranks second in assists and fourth in points. The Manitoba native set career highs in goals, game-winning goals, assists, points, shorthanded points and penalty minutes (48).
York was selected by his teammates as the Flyers’ most improved player from the previous season. The defenseman ranks second on the team in average time on ice per game (22:35) and tied with Sanheim among team defensemen in goals (10).
The 23-year-old has set career highs in games played (81), goals, assists (20), points (30), penalty minutes (44), power-play points (six), shorthanded points (two) and game-winning goals (one). Per NHL Stats, he became the fourth Flyers blueliner in the past 30 years to record a double-digit goal total at age 23-or-younger, joining Ivan Provorov (17 in 2017-18 & 13 in 2019-20), Shayne Gostisbehere (17 in 2015-16) and Joni Pitkanen (13 in 2005-06).
The Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) selected Seeler as this year’s recipient of the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award.
This award is presented annually to the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport both on and off the ice. The award honors the memory of Yanick Dupre, who died on August 16, 1997, at the age of 24 after a 16-month battle with leukemia.
Ersson was chosen for the Hart Award due to his passion for the game. The award honors the memory of longtime Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart. For 28 years, Hart called the organizations’ most thrilling moments, and in the process, helped spawn generations of devoted fans. Laughton is the inaugural recipient of the Flyers Alumni Community Leadership Award. The award is given to the Flyer who best demonstrates outstanding leadership, both on and off the ice, as well as a significant contribution to the community.
The alternate captain hosted and met members of the LGBTQ+ community at 20-of-41 home games this season, including 50-plus guests in a postgame meet and greet following the Flyers Pride Game on Jan. 9. He allocates his time and money to organizations such as the USO, Salvation Army, the Mazzoni Center and the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia.
As recipient of this award, Laughton is the Flyers nominee for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
