Flint Firebirds 2022-23 Off-Season Thread

[bcspragu]

the biggest issue here is that the OHL talks about watching out for these boys and the mental issues that they endure from fan and teammate pressure. Yet they can not be upfront with players and make a timely and fair decision when it comes to suspensions as stated earlier in a thread, 24-48 hrs should be plenty of time for review and discussion with the player involved. This puts so much mental stress on the players not knowing when they can return. do not single any player out to make an example, be fair and equal to all players and issue the same punishments. Stop! Playing mind games and using these boys. If you want fighting and hard hitting removed from the game stop promoting highlight videos showing such. But also expect to lose fans and players to go to other leagues because this is hockey not figure skating.

Whats more likely? The team is aware of the suspension length and the OHL just havent updated the website or they are purposely stringing this kid along. Branch was in Saginaw Friday night. Maybe they wanted the commissioner to meet with the player because this seems to be a repeat issue with him. Plenty of reasons that we as fans cant always be aware of.

Also this was a hit well after a goal was scored. This isnt some bang bang play mid action that was an accident. If the OHL didnt take action they would lose far more players whose parents dont want thier children to be fair game after they score goals and catch a stray from some goon.

 

[Firebird Fan26]

Whats more likely? The team is aware of the suspension length and the OHL just havent updated the website or they are purposely stringing this kid along. Branch was in Saginaw Friday night. Maybe they wanted the commissioner to meet with the player because this seems to be a repeat issue with him. Plenty of reasons that we as fans cant always be aware of.

Also this was a hit well after a goal was scored. This isnt some bang bang play mid action that was an accident. If the OHL didnt take action they would lose far more players whose parents dont want thier children to be fair game after they score goals and catch a stray from some goon.

answer to the first question, the league is stringing them along which isn’t right.
2nd , yes the hit was after a goal but less than 3 seconds and when you are in the moment you may not necessarily realize there was a goal, no strides were taken it was coasted into the hit. Could it have been avoided? Maybe. Has there been much worse and no call? Yes. I’m just asking that things be called equally fair and consistent, and that the league stops the mental games as well

 

[bird2bird]

Very good game last night. Finally, I've seen some good team work, and our boys played with, fewer than usual, mistakes in our D zone. Let's keep it going. Hope to get another W tonight!

 

[MJ5]

What I miss on Kressler?

He just serving Artie's suspension?

 

[Toldyaso]

What I miss on Kressler?

He just serving Artie's suspension?

Lower body injury.

 

[Toldyaso]

Well another very good start for Day. How many in a row is that now 3 4 5? I know he was the starter in the Birds last 5 wins I think it is now. Wonder who Dent will start against Windsor. Just an anecdotal observation on my part but the team seems to be playing with a lot more confidence with Day in goal.

 

[Bellof]

Props to whoever trolled Saginaw with the dopey Whitney Houston song after the game

 

[Savard18]

Well another very good start for Day. How many in a row is that now 3 4 5? I know he was the starter in the Birds last 5 wins I think it is now. Wonder who Dent will start against Windsor. Just an anecdotal observation on my part but the team seems to be playing with a lot more confidence with Day in goal.

Day has a save % above .900 for the last 4 games and 5 of the last 6. His goals against in the last 4 games is 2.00. Very very small sample size but still….Cranley has posted a save% above .900 once in his last 19 starts….ONCE. Going back to December 04 of last year. As bird2bird posted above, the Dzone play has been better recently though too. As far as continued wins go though? Sure, I guess I’m ok with that but let’s be realistic. These boys are finishing in the 6-8 spot and getting bounced in the first round probably, by the second round for sure. In a draft year with a lot of incoming talent would you rather see them be a 6 seed, lose to Sarnia in the 1st round and pick 10th or 11th or be an 8 seed, lose to London in 1st round and pick 5th or 6th?

 

[Firebird Fan26]

What I miss on Kressler?

He just serving Artie's suspension?

Someone will return against Windsor……

 

[MJ5]

So Guryev's suspension isn't listed on the site anymore.

 

[Hockytwn51419]

So Guryev's suspension isn't listed on the site anymore.

Just saw that, been refreshing that site alllll damn day.

 

[Savard18]

Hmmmmm. That seems awfully short if he’s returning already and quite odd if there’s no suspension time-frame listed at any point. I mean….I highly doubt it but…..it almost makes me wonder if he’s just been shelved for the year unless the “somebody’s returning vs Windsor” means Guryev and not Kressler. I don’t think there was any intent to injure at all on the play but even I think given his history and just the optics of a hit that late after a goal on a celebrating player. 3 games would seem definitely on the lower end of the suspension spectrum.

 

[Savard18]

So….I think I’ve made my frustration with the trade deadline pretty clear and I’m gonna try and keep this short so….picture Dent doesn’t trade away Petrovski. Imagine he also moves Lombardi and Kuzmin for a top flight ‘05 plus a bunch of pics. Look at how our ‘05’s are doing. Say what you want about what a piece of $**T Christensen is (He is. 100%) but that ‘05 class right now? Bertucci, Hay, Pitters, Klinkhammer, if Petrovski were still here with Jenken added. If he had went the sell route and added an ‘05 and picks? They would be set for a solid 23-24 and a RUN in 24-25.

 

[Savard18]

Now. They buy this year option. A goalie needed to be added. Period. It ain’t Cranley and Day isn’t quite there yet to be thrown at a Championship run. Not many goalie moves at the deadline but Leaver sure has looked good. After the Othmann/Petrovski/D’Amato deals I wanted to see 3 additions. Another D. Del Mastro/Hache preferably. A top flight A list forward Pastujov/Arcuri/Harrison/Winterton etc. Avery Hayes if Cranley could be moved. Also a B list forward. Sirrizotti/Dann/Humphrey among others were on my list. If they weren’t gonna add AT LEAST two of those 3 options with how they were performing, I was out. Sell. Dann was on my radar. I was down. He’s been ok here. I’m not trying to dog him. He’ll be here next and producing too I’m sure but…. It was a waste of you weren’t gonna go after more. Nolan Dann. 6 picks in rounds 2-4. 4g 13pts -15 in 21 games. Sirrizotti to the Soo. 11g 27pts -14 in 28 games for a (more) struggling Greyhounds. For a single 3rd and an 8th. Just sayin’ Ted.

 

[Hockytwn51419]

Hmmmmm. That seems awfully short if he’s returning already and quite odd if there’s no suspension time-frame listed at any point. I mean….I highly doubt it but…..it almost makes me wonder if he’s just been shelved for the year unless the “somebody’s returning vs Windsor” means Guryev and not Kressler. I don’t think there was any intent to injure at all on the play but even I think given his history and just the optics of a hit that late after a goal on a celebrating player. 3 games would seem definitely on the lower end of the suspension spectrum.

I figured it would be at least 5 games. Why can’t the OHL site be a little more user friendly (informative)?

 

[Flyers 1st]

I figured it would be at least 5 games. Why can’t the OHL site be a little more user friendly (informative)?

I emailed Ted Baker , his response was that " the suspension was served in its entirety through the weekend games and removed from website after review". They must have deemed it pretty minor. you are right about the OHL website too, they seem to like all the warm and fuzzy stuff like video of the Knights giggling during pregame skate

 

[Savard18]

I emailed Ted Baker , his response was that " the suspension was served in its entirety through the weekend games and removed from website after review". They must have deemed it pretty minor. you are right about the OHL website too, they seem to like all the warm and fuzzy stuff like video of the Knights giggling during pregame skate

Awesome. Thank you sir. I must say I am a bit surprised though. If you watch the video from the end board camera and not the “full ice” ? camera it clearly didn’t look real malicious. Still, with his history and ….. I mean c’mon, minor or not it was like ….I’d call it like the alchohol free beer version to the Dale Hunter/Pierre Turgeon Molson Canadian hit. The messed up part for me? If just by chance Voit had gotten seriously hurt on the play it would have been 600 games. So once again it’s a suspension not so much based on the act but on whether or not there was an injury. Leave your feet and throw an elbow at Arber Xhekaj’s head? Totally cool if he’s fine. 2 minutes. Catch Ty Voit admiring his pass with a clean hit and hurt him? 10 games. It’s so dumb.

 

[jink1187]

Awesome. Thank you sir. I must say I am a bit surprised though. If you watch the video from the end board camera and not the “full ice” ? camera it clearly didn’t look real malicious. Still, with his history and ….. I mean c’mon, minor or not it was like ….I’d call it like the alchohol free beer version to the Dale Hunter/Pierre Turgeon Molson Canadian hit. The messed up part for me? If just by chance Voit had gotten seriously hurt on the play it would have been 600 games. So once again it’s a suspension not so much based on the act but on whether or not there was an injury. Leave your feet and throw an elbow at Arber Xhekaj’s head? Totally cool if he’s fine. 2 minutes. Catch Ty Voit admiring his pass with a clean hit and hurt him? 10 games. It’s so dumb.

Admiring a pass? He had just scored a goal when he decided to hit him. Malicious or not, it was long enough after the play that no contact should ever take place! Especially by a repeat offender!!

 

[Savard18]

I wasn’t referencing that specific play. I was use using Ty as an example because I couldn’t think of a more elite undersized forward in the league.

 

[Hockytwn51419]

I wasn’t referencing that specific play. I was use using Ty as an example because I couldn’t think of a more elite undersized forward in the league.

Should have used a Firebird as the example so it didn’t pi$$ anyone off.

 

[Savard18]

Should have used a Firebird as the example so it didn’t pi$$ anyone off.

I actually was gonna use Giroux as the example.

 

[Hockytwn51419]

I actually was gonna use Giroux as the example.

Started to type Lombardi, thought nope and then typed Giroux, said nope again…. scratched it all and just went with the team. LOL

 

[Firebird Fan26]

So the whining begins again, Giroux has been targeted so many times with dirty hits, checked headfirst into the dasher and no calls. The referees are so bias for Canadian teams, things have to change and be more consistent and fair to all

 

[Hockytwn51419]

So the whining begins again, Giroux has been targeted so many times with dirty hits, checked headfirst into the dasher and no calls. The referees are so bias for Canadian teams, things have to change and be more consistent and fair to all

They have to look up the definition of consistent and fair first.

 

[MJ5]

Day just keeps getting better. Deserved the shut out tonight, played absolutely fantastic.

Not sure why Dionicio was running his mouth so much.