C Will Bitten (2016, 70th, MTL; traded to MIN; traded to STL)

[covfefe]

this is a ****show of epic proportions. has an owner ever been suspended by the league before?

 

[irunthepeg]

Gotta feel bad for the fans and all the players.

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

I'm reminded so much of Fabbri when watching Bitten - the kid should explode if Flint gets its **** together or he gets traded.

 

[Leafidelity]

Whoever gets Bitten is getting a real good player. I always come away impressed with him.

 

[Thebesthockey]

can someone please explain to me what is going on here
whats this about , ? i read many articles and and this is about an owner firing a coach and trading away players and players not happy ?
what is the issue here ?

 

[Ennui]

can someone please explain to me what is going on here
whats this about , ? i read many articles and and this is about an owner firing a coach and trading away players and players not happy ?
what is the issue here ?

The issue, at least to start with, was a conflict of interest due to the team owner/general manager's son being on the Flint Firebirds. The owner/GM (Rolf Nilsen) felt that his son wasn't getting the ice time nor the attention that he deserved, and the coaching staff weren't complying with his efforts to give his son undue prominence, so he fired the coaches.

Crap hits the fan, players (including his son) walk out on strike, he is forced to walk back from his position and re-hire the coaches, and everything seems hunky dory. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[amack081]

The Firebirds' owner has fired the coaches (again) and Bitten's father is, understandably, most upset:

Father of Flint Firebirds star: ‘They have to take this team away from that man’



I really can't imagine any team that drafts Bitten wanting him anywhere near the team next season. What a disaster.

Another interesting item is that Flint will likely have two top 5 picks in the upcoming OHL draft. How many kids/kid's parents are going to want to have their kids go play in Flint with this owner?
This franchise will not last very long. Eventually its going to be sold to a guy like Terry Pegula who will move them to Buffalo area.

 

[izzy]

Another interesting item is that Flint will likely have two top 5 picks in the upcoming OHL draft. How many kids/kid's parents are going to want to have their kids go play in Flint with this owner?
This franchise will not last very long. Eventually its going to be sold to a guy like Terry Pegula who will move them to Buffalo area.

Hopefully happens before then, make the picks and keep Bitten. Thats a powerhouse team in 2 seasons unless Bitten gets a spot after the draft/draft +1. Also Caamano is promising from what ive seen of them.

 

[amack081]

Hopefully happens before then, make the picks and keep Bitten. Thats a powerhouse team in 2 seasons unless Bitten gets a spot after the draft/draft +1. Also Caamano is promising from what ive seen of them.

If there is no change in ownership, I have no doubt that Detroit will move Saarjarvi out of that situation. The team drafting Bitten will likely do the same thing (as with Kirwan).

To me their franchise is a ticking time bomb. Whether the changes happen at the end of this season or next is the question.

A team scouting Bitten will have a hard time projecting him. I've stated earlier in this thread that I believe that he is a first round talent, playing on a poor team with misguided ownership. Whether this benefits or hinders Bitten on draft day remains to be seen.

 

[izzy]

If there is no change in ownership, I have no doubt that Detroit will move Saarjarvi out of that situation. The team drafting Bitten will likely do the same thing (as with Kirwan).

To me their franchise is a ticking time bomb. Whether the changes happen at the end of this season or next is the question.

A team scouting Bitten will have a hard time projecting him. I've stated earlier in this thread that I believe that he is a first round talent, playing on a poor team with misguided ownership. Whether this benefits or hinders Bitten on draft day remains to be seen.

Really depends on how quickly this is dealt with, the league cant just allow a team to be driven into the ground

 

[DekeLikeYouMeanIt]

Another interesting item is that Flint will likely have two top 5 picks in the upcoming OHL draft. How many kids/kid's parents are going to want to have their kids go play in Flint with this owner?
This franchise will not last very long. Eventually its going to be sold to a guy like Terry Pegula who will move them to Buffalo area.

That would be good. Link Niagara and Erie.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Bitten is somewhat undersized, but he has tremendous balance and escapability. He is a very good skater with excellent breakaway speed, and can beat defenders to the outside or turn them inside-out thanks to a variety of on-the-go jukes and fakes. He’s a disciplined solider who follows instruction, always willing to dial down his role in order to do what’s best of the team

http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/prospects/will-bitten/

Bitten is a very good prospect who should be getting attention for his play rather than the whole Flint shenanigans. Being a 60-point players on Flint is like being an 80-point player on most other teams.

And I think his best asset is his vision/passing.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

 

[Debrincat93]

Not going to lie, ive only seen him once but he reminded me of Trochek when I saw him in Plymouth a few years ago.

 

[AstoriaIceNinja]

Another interesting item is that Flint will likely have two top 5 picks in the upcoming OHL draft. How many kids/kid's parents are going to want to have their kids go play in Flint with this owner?
This franchise will not last very long. Eventually its going to be sold to a guy like Terry Pegula who will move them to Buffalo area.

Fixed that for ya.

I harped on this earlier, but with or without the owner Flint is a crapsack. If you don't already know, the city diverted their drinking water to an unsafe source (the Flint River) without properly treating the water to remove corrosive elements; thus, the lead in the pipes has been flowing into the city's drinking water and causing, well, problems. Can read more on that here if you care to.

If that wasn't bad enough, the town has a shrinking population and is among the poorest cities in the US. There are very few places that would be a worse situation for an athletic club, especially one for 17-20 year old kids/young men.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Fixed that for ya.

I harped on this earlier, but with or without the owner Flint is a crapsack. If you don't already know, the city diverted their drinking water to an unsafe source (the Flint River) without properly treating the water to remove corrosive elements; thus, the lead in the pipes has been flowing into the city's drinking water and causing, well, problems. Can read more on that here if you care to.

If that wasn't bad enough, the town has a shrinking population and is among the poorest cities in the US. There are very few places that would be a worse situation for an athletic club, especially one for 17-20 year old kids/young men.

I get what you are saying, but I read a few weeks ago that the kids on the Firebirds are billeted in a suburb of Flint not affected by the water crisis.

And the water at the arena in Flint has been fine.

 

[amack081]

Fixed that for ya.

I harped on this earlier, but with or without the owner Flint is a crapsack. If you don't already know, the city diverted their drinking water to an unsafe source (the Flint River) without properly treating the water to remove corrosive elements; thus, the lead in the pipes has been flowing into the city's drinking water and causing, well, problems. Can read more on that here if you care to.

If that wasn't bad enough, the town has a shrinking population and is among the poorest cities in the US. There are very few places that would be a worse situation for an athletic club, especially one for 17-20 year old kids/young men.

I agree that the health and socioeconomic impact of living in Flint doesn't make it desirable destination for junior hockey. The point is that the owner compounds the unattractiveness of the city for a player who is looking to get noticed by scouts. This was discussed with Bitten's further in the HockeyNews.

I think despite all this, Bitten has actually been one of the bright spots this season. As I've mentioned, I think he s a first round talent, and I hope he doesn't fall too far in the draft. If he is still on the board on the 2nd day, I wouldn't hesitate to use the 31st overall pick on him.

 

[FireBird71]

Fixed that for ya.

I harped on this earlier, but with or without the owner Flint is a crapsack. If you don't already know, the city diverted their drinking water to an unsafe source (the Flint River) without properly treating the water to remove corrosive elements; thus, the lead in the pipes has been flowing into the city's drinking water and causing, well, problems. Can read more on that here if you care to.

If that wasn't bad enough, the town has a shrinking population and is among the poorest cities in the US. There are very few places that would be a worse situation for an athletic club, especially one for 17-20 year old kids/young men.

The kids don't stay in Flint...the water at the arena is fine as its tested on a monthly basis and the "shrinking population" has done little to the attendance...nice try though.

 

[FireBird71]

Another interesting item is that Flint will likely have two top 5 picks in the upcoming OHL draft. How many kids/kid's parents are going to want to have their kids go play in Flint with this owner?
This franchise will not last very long. Eventually its going to be sold to a guy like Terry Pegula who will move them to Buffalo area.

More like be sold to Tom Gores..owner of the Detroit Pistons and Flint native

 

[FireBird71]

Fixed that for ya.

I harped on this earlier, but with or without the owner Flint is a crapsack. If you don't already know, the city diverted their drinking water to an unsafe source (the Flint River) without properly treating the water to remove corrosive elements; thus, the lead in the pipes has been flowing into the city's drinking water and causing, well, problems. Can read more on that here if you care to.

If that wasn't bad enough, the town has a shrinking population and is among the poorest cities in the US. There are very few places that would be a worse situation for an athletic club, especially one for 17-20 year old kids/young men.

http://ohlinsiders.com/2016/03/14/firebirds-selling/

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I continue to like this kid. Think he is one of the more interesting mid to late first rd choices this draft. If he makes it to the 2nd rd in this year's particular draft , he would be a steal IMO.

 

[AstoriaIceNinja]

The kids don't stay in Flint...the water at the arena is fine as its tested on a monthly basis and the "shrinking population" has done little to the attendance...nice try though.

Right, because short-term attendance figures are more important than socio-economic trends when determining whether or not a particular city is good for a sports team. Because teams can't fudge their attendance at all with free giveaways just to get people in the seats.Because being able to verify the safety of water in ONE location means you can account for what the players eat and drink 24/7. Stop with the short-sighted argument for athletics. Next, you'll be telling me that hosting the Olympics is good for the host city (hint: generally, it's not).

 

[FireBird71]

Right, because short-term attendance figures are more important than socio-economic trends when determining whether or not a particular city is good for a sports team. Because teams can't fudge their attendance at all with free giveaways just to get people in the seats.Because being able to verify the safety of water in ONE location means you can account for what the players eat and drink 24/7. Stop with the short-sighted argument for athletics. Next, you'll be telling me that hosting the Olympics is good for the host city (hint: generally, it's not).

You need to find a better source than Wikipedia...and I know more about what's going on the area than you do...and wtf does the Olympics have to do with this topic?

 

[AstoriaIceNinja]

You need to find a better source than Wikipedia...and I know more about what's going on the area than you do...and wtf does the Olympics have to do with this topic?

Trashing Wikipedia is low, the site only goes as far as the things it references, which in this case was the 2010 US Census. I'd say that's a reputable source, but with government I suppose you could argue that it isn't.

The Olympics is another example of how people think hosting an athletics event is good for the city because of perceived short-term gains, when in reality the amount of money spent and debt incurred as a result if the investment can never be recouped. In short, it's a bad financial investment, just like the Firebirds seem to be right now.

Luckily for folks like you, people like Tom Gores don't buy teams like this because it's a sound financial decision, they do it because they are emotionally invested in the area, no matter how irrational/illogical it may be to do so.

You can tell me all the anecdotal evidence you want about how X and Y are good about Flint, it doesn't change the fact that all statistics available show the area is in decline, and not being helped by poor decisions made by people in power. It's nothing personal against Flint, I made the same argument against Utica, NY on another thread. The overall health of the area matters for athletics; show me proof of long-term economic viability and I'll shut up, otherwise I'd predict the team moves again within the next three to five years and everyone in Flint will be left figuratively holding the bag.

Since this is a Bitten thread, I am concerned for the future of the Firebirds and thus his future as well (had to keep it relevant). People who don't think the area where the team is based has an effect on young players are fools. It's just unfortunate that hockey is further constrained by having a generally limited base of interest confined mostly to the Northern US (Minnesota, Boston, New York, Michigan, etc.), therefore causing areas that wouldn't be first choice to come up as options for teams to be considered more readily if they are within that sphere.

 

[LastWordArmy]

Will Bitten could be an intriguing late first or early second round pick. He had a long slump while stuff was hitting the fan with Flint (2 goals in 15 games after Ndeljkovic and Wesley were traded) but rebounded and still finished close to a point per game.

It couldn't have been easy being part of the Flint Firebirds.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/05/05/will-bitten-scouting-report-2016-nhl-draft-38/