Flyers announce winners of 2018-19 team awards

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Before Saturday night's 2018-19 regular-season finale, the Flyers handed out their annual team awards.

Let's look at the winners:

Sean Couturier — Bobby Clarke Trophy (Flyers MVP — selected by sportswriters and sportscasters)

It has been exciting to watch the 26-year-old Couturier turn into the Flyers' do-it-all guy. This marks his first Bobby Clarke Trophy and there's a good chance it won't be his last.

For some context of how valuable Couturier is to the Flyers: He'll finish the season first on the team in goals and faceoffs won, second in points and ice time per game, and third in shorthanded ice time, while leading Flyers forwards in blocked shots.

Radko Gudas — Barry Ashbee Trophy (Most outstanding defenseman — selected by sportswriters and sportscasters)

Before the season, nobody thought Gudas would take home this award, not with Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov coming off career years. But Gostisbehere and Provorov endured down seasons, while Gudas was steady from start to finish.

The 28-year-old entered Saturday with the team's second-best plus-minus mark (plus-8) to go along with 255 hits and 130 blocked shots.

Andrew MacDonald — Yanick Dupre Class Guy Award (Presented to the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect both on and off the ice — selected by Philadelphia chapter of PHWA)

Despite catching a lot flack from the fans, MacDonald is a classy guy and one of the most respected teammates in the Flyers' locker room. The 32-year-old is a positive influence on the young defensemen and is always respectful after wins or losses.

Travis Sanheim — Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy (Most improved — selected by teammates)

This honor could have gone to either Sanheim or Oskar Lindblom. Both were significant bright spots in a drama-filled season.

Sanheim played all 82 games during his first full NHL campaign in which he put up the second-most points among Flyers defensemen. The 2014 first-round pick came into Saturday with nine goals and 25 assists.

He just turned 23 years old and will be a promising piece to 2019-20.

Sean Couturier — Gene Hart Memorial Award (Player with the most “heart” — selected by Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club)

Couturier earned the award for the second straight season. Teammates look up to him because he takes on a ton of responsibility, doesn't complain and produces.

"I try to lead in any way I can. More by example, I should say," Couturier said after last season. "I'm not really the guy who's going to yell or talk often. I try to lead by example. Maybe show the new guys, I should say young guys, how the game should be played. Play it out by example."

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