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Kevin Hayes named Flyers’ Gene Hart award winner

The subjective honor is given to the player who displays the most "heart." Hayes, in his first season here, tied for the NHL lead with four shorthanded goals and was second on the Flyers with five game-winners.

Flyers center Kevin Hayes scores a third-period shorthanded goal past Colorado goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Cale Makar on Feb. 1.
Flyers center Kevin Hayes scores a third-period shorthanded goal past Colorado goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Cale Makar on Feb. 1.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Fans love the way Kevin Hayes kills penalties. They also love the way he celebrates goals and chirps in the locker room and on the ice.

Just this weekend, he sent out a hilarious jab on Twitter at former college teammate and good friend Johnny Gaudreau.

As a result of his popularity, Hayes on Monday was named the 2019-20 Gene Hart Memorial Award winner, given by the Flyers’ Fan Club to the player who demonstrates the most heart.

» From the archives: Kevin Hayes assess his first season as a Flyer

Philadelphia signed Hayes to a seven-year, $50 million contract in June 2019, reuniting the player with Alain Vigneault, the new Flyers coach who was Hayes’ coach with the Rangers in his first four NHL seasons.

Hayes had 23 goals in 69 games, including a career-best four shorthanded to lead the NHL. His ebullient personality also made him popular among teammates, although his practice of playing a one-man game of keep-away while killing penalties made some nervous.

Hayes, 28, is just the third player to win the award in his first true season with the Flyers, joining Ian Laperriere (2009-10) and Wayne Simmonds (2011-12). Sean Couturier had won the award, which has been handed out since 2006-07, the last two seasons.

“This being my first year, I felt right at home from day one,” Hayes said in a team statement. “I love this team, organization, fan base and city. It’s hard not to love playing at the Wells Fargo Center every night in front of the best fans in the league.”

Previous winners

2006-07: Sami Kapanen

2007-08: Mike Richards

2008-09: Scott Hartnell

2009-10: Ian Laperriere

2010-11: Claude Giroux

2011-12: Wayne Simmonds

2012-13: Zac Rinaldo

2013-14: Steve Mason

2014-15: Jake Voracek

2015-16: Shayne Gostisbehere

2016-17: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

2017-18: Sean Couturier

2018-19: Sean Couturier

2019-20: Kevin Hayes