Gostisbehere named Flyers' top defenseman

Shayne Gostisbehere, the dynamic rookie who spent the first five weeks of the season in the minors, was named the Flyers' top defenseman Thursday, and Claude Giroux was selected as the team's MVP for the fourth time in the last six seasons.

The media voted on the awards.

Gostisbehere, 22, who is the youngest player to ever win the Barry Ashbee Trophy, is the second first-year player to earn the award. Norm Barnes won it in 1979-80.

Giroux, the winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy, entered Thursday with a team-high 66 points. He has more points (366) than any NHL player over the last five seasons.

Gostisbehere began the night with 16 goals - a club record for a rookie defenseman - and 43 points in…