Richards is Flyers MVP

-Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers

In a ceremony prior to today’s Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins game at the Wachovia Center, the Philadelphia Flyers announced the winners of the team’s 2007-08 awards - the Bobby Clarke Trophy for most valuable player, the Barry Ashbee Trophy for most outstanding defenseman and the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy for most improved player from the previous season.

Center Mike Richards has won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team’s most valuable player, as selected by a panel of sportscasters and sportswriters. Richards leads the team in assists (47), points (75, 25th in the NHL), shorthanded goals (5, tied for third in the NHL) and average time on ice among forwards (21:31), is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (6) and is second on the team in power play points (31) and plus/minus (+14). He has set new career highs for goals in a season (28), assists in a season (47) and points in a season (75).

Kimmo Timonen is the winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team’s most outstanding defenseman, as voted by a panel of sportscasters and sportswriters. Timonen has recorded eight goals and 36 assists for 44 points and 48 penalty minutes in 79 games this season. He is first on the team in average time on ice (23:34) and power play assists (26, tied for ninth in the NHL) and leads Flyers defensemen in points (44, 13th in the NHL).

Braydon Coburn and Riley Cote will share the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the Flyer who has most improved from the previous season, as voted by his teammates. In his first full season with the Flyers, Coburn has posted 36 points (9G,27A) and 72 penalty minutes in 77 games. He is first on the team in plus/minus at +17 and first among Flyers defensemen in goals with nine. He has set new career highs for goals in a season, assists in a season and points in a season.

Also in his first full season with the Flyers, Cote has registered four points (1G,3A) and 202 penalty minutes in 69 games. He is first on the team in penalty minutes (202, fourth in the NHL).