….and they’re back to inconsistency. You’re 3-0 with Deline in the lineup Dent. Play him. Terry struggled last night. Turnovers, losing battles. I’m all for loyalty and giving a kid a chance but it’s just not the year. These games matter now. Look at Windsor’s path to the WCF last year as opposed to Flint’s. That sh*r probsbly cost the ‘Birds a post season banner or two. Nobody is gonna trade for Terry this year. OA spots are filled and he’s not a noticeable upgrade that anybody will pay for. You can give the net to Day too. I’m trying to hold out hope but I’m becoming more and more convinced I was correct in my assessment that Cranley isn’t the guy even though the team has hung him out to dry a bit and could be playing better in front of him. There’s still a little hope but they’ve got to improve in front of him and gain the kid some confidence soon if there’s ANY chance. His numbers don’t look horrible but he’s let in too many back breaking routine saves. Kitchener is struggling right now but they had yesterday off and you can be sure they’re gonna be hungry for a W with their new OA goalie in net. Yes. The options for goaltenders is shrinking and prices will be increasing. If they want to do this, they need to get going NOW and be a #1 or #2 seed because the road through the West will not be easy and they do not look like a contender right now. At all.
Flint Firebirds 2022-23 Off-Season Thread
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You should have taken Medina when you had the chance.
American born, would have tried to prove that Windsor chose the wrong one by keeping Onuska,instead he is off to the USHL to play with Sioux Falls Stampede.
There is more one team in this league that will have regrets not bringing him in and Flint could be one if them.
As for Day,run with him with his inexperience not a good move either.
Medina as good as his best (brief playoff) is, is just a solid OHL goalie, no better than Cranely imo.
Last night, a goalie would have needed a heroic performance to steal that game.
I totally agree. Medina has a lot of people to prove wrong in this league and I think the chances are pretty good that he would. I think the issue with Cranley would be upsetting St Louis if they just cut ties with him and then damaging the franchises relationship with the Blues. I also wouldn’t want to put all that pressure on Day heading into the post season, but give him some rope now to see what he’s got. The playing time should benefit him anyway and you’ll know what you got in your backup heading after the trade deadline.
I know what you’re saying. I don’t completely disagree. He just gets beat five hole once or more every game. That back hand flip that beat him last night? You gotta stop that. It’s back breaking and team demoralizing. I can see reasons to have hope out of him every game but then he’ll let one get past him that just kills it. You usually don’t win Championships with goalies that let one or two routine saves past them on a nightly basis no matter how good the rest of their game is. And frankly, Flint’s D and offense isn’t up to making up for that right now. Guys gotta step up and a return of Kressler would be huge.
Kressler is missed for sure.
As for that back flip, it would be fluke for any goalie to stop. Flores got beat five hole, the best NHL goalies get beat five hole with regularity.
I’m with you; Cranely, any OA G really, was probably not the right move for Flint. But, Dent could not or would not pay the price for Thornton or Flores or …
Is this they are? We’re 10% through the season now. Goaltending isn’t good. Can’t finish. Don’t play D. Don’t win puck battles. Bad turnovers. Not playing the body. No intensity. Ill-advised penalties. Is this who you are? Then cut Terry and sell.
Maybe they were right to not let Othman play the 9 games. If he was that talented he should be stepping up more.
He's averaging almost 2 points a game. He's doing plenty. They just aren't getting much production from any other line.
I understand what you are saying about Cranley and relationships with St Louis etc.,just thinking something might have to be done here regarding both goalies Day and Cranley, Day cant carry this team and Cranley I dont think he can Flint is too good a team not to have a good goalie to bring them further along.
As well agree that Deline should be kept over Terry.
I’ve been critical of Othmann here and there in the past and he didn’t have his best game today but he’s the ONLY player on this team that’s been impressive every night so far. Throw out that Erie game and the Bird’s are averaging like 2.5 goals a game probsbly and 1.5 of them are Brennan’s. He’s hitting, fighting, scoring, somehow he’s all of a sudden the best playmaker on the team and best defensive forward.
So you think it’s the player leading the league in points and goals that’s holding them back? They SHOULD be a solid team. Right now they’re not and only one guy is consistently performing shift to shift.
I was gonna respond and say I didn’t notice that. Did you decide you didn’t see that either or did I actually just miss it?
I deleted because I wanted to rewatch, just wanted to make sure I was correct in saying Hay was playing D. I wasn't sure if he was just jumping back in the play to cover a D. But he was playing D even from the face off. I noticed it during Niagara game in the 3rd, looks like he played in the 2nd and 3rd during Kitchener game.
Huh. I didn’t notice and don’t particularly care for that. Maybe Dent was trying to produce more offense from the blueline. Through 7 games Kuzmin, Deline, D’Amato and Terry have produced 1g and 6a with 4 of those assists being Kuzmin’s. That has to improve.
I don't think he was trying to generate more offense. IMO Hay is more defensively minded out of any forward (aside from Kressler) and tends be first guy back to support D. I think he was trying to beef up D.
If you can improve your defensive play by moving a 17yo forward back you’ve got major issues.
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That's a fact. Didn't see enough of either game to notice that, but sounds like an interesting tactic.I believe D'Amato had a 10 mins misconduct during Niagara game and Bertucci was hurt during Kitchener so needed Hay on the backend. I don't think it was anything other then that.
ohloutsider
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Flint finished too high in the standings. Harder to find high end talent at the end of the first round. It's a product of Flint's success.
It’s late. I’ll post again tomorrow but it’s no secret I’ve questioned Cranley since the beginning. Not tonight. That was a stellar performance. Solid positioning, confident, good rebound control, athletic saves. Some luck too but that’s part of the game and you create your own luck sometimes. Consistency is the key though. Way to follow up being pulled and turn it around. He was good tonight. Star of the game. Let’s hope it’s the beginning of a new trend.
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