There were no surprises on a couple of the Flyers' team awards given out on Saturday prior to their 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets (see game story).
Wayne Simmonds won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team MVP, while rookie Ivan Provorov won the Barry Ashbee Trophy, which is awarded to the club's best defenseman. Both awards are given by the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
"I'm a person who tries to get better every year, every day," said Simmonds, who leads the Flyers with 30 goals and has led the team in goal scoring four years now.
"I don't think I really had too many expectations, I just came into it, worked hard and tried to get as far as I could.
"I think I've done a pretty good job thus far and hopefully I can play well into my 30s, I've got a lot more improving to do and a lot more to prove and I look forward to it."
Simmonds made his first career appearance at the NHL All-Star Game this season and was named the game's MVP after scoring three goals, including the game-winner in the 3-on-3 final against the Pacific Division.
Simmonds also won the Toyota Cup for the most votes this season in the "Three Stars of the Game."
Provorov, 20 and just a rookie, leads the Flyers in average ice time with 21:56. He's the youngest Barry Ashbee winner in franchise history, eclipsing last season's winner, Shayne Gostisbehere.
This is the second consecutive year that a rookie has received the award.
NHL
"It means a lot," Provorov said of the honor. "It was a huge honor. Lots of good defensemen won this award in the past. I couldn't have done this alone without my teammates -- all the D partners I have played with.
"So just a huge thanks to them. We will keep getting better. I will keep getting better and we will see what happens."
Defenseman Radko Gudas won the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Award as the most improved Flyer, as voted by his teammates.
Gudas was often out of control a season ago on the ice, always looking to make a hit, even if it wasn't there, instead of making a hockey play.
He reduced his penalty minutes from 116 to 93, and his 23 points are nine more than last season in nine fewer games (67). He is currently sidelined with a concussion.
Goalie Steve Mason won the Yanick Dupre Memorial Class Guy Award, as given by the PHWA to the athlete who best represents the club on and off the ice and with the media.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare won the Gene Hart Memorial Award, as voted by the Flyers' Fan Club. It goes to the player with the most "heart."
"Unbelievable," Bellemare said. "I wasn't expecting it. I was talking to G [Claude Giroux], talking about who was going to get it. He probably knew but didn't say anything. That was fun, real fun."