Flint Firebirds 2022 Off-season Thread

[OMG67]

Cranley is a good goalie. Big frame. The Covid layoff really hurt him. I’m reasonably certain he will bounce back in front of a stronger team.

He had a good start and then Ottawa had a massive rash of injuries and started circling the toilet quick. Cranley followed.

He just couldn’t get it back.

St Louis liked him enough to sign him. I think he will return for an OA year.

Donoso came in for Ottawa last season and played well making the OA Cranley expendable. Ottawa can and will use that OA spot on a dynamic forward.

 

[Savard18]

flint doesnt post them, probably because they are entirely based on if the player comes or not. do you honestly believe that a signed nhl goalie prospect is only worth a 15th round pick? just use some logic on this one.

i was told its a 3rd and 5th if he plays. for whatever reason they didnt publish it.

Well….no, I wouldn’t expect paying just a 15th for an OA, NHL signed goaltender buuuuut I sure don’t expect paying a 3rd and a 5th for an OA with an .873 save % and some pretty weak numbers over his career including post season and pre season #’s which are atrocious. Especially when you consider Flint Will have to move/release one of 5 OA candidates, 3 of which would contribute quite a bit I believe and two that are solid players that could still eat considerable minutes and be productive. NHL teams blow it on goalies all the time. Just for example, Dallas drafted Brent Moran and Flint watched him struggle as an OA goalie. As far Cavallin ‘s early #’s goes, that’s a solid and often accurate observation that I hope you are correct about but Cavallin’s numbers as an 18yo were far better than Cranley’s as a 19yo. Yes, Cav’s #’s at 16 and 17 were rough but he was 16 and 17 and I gotta think those two Flint teams were worse than Ottawa was this year. We’ve all seen goalies just bust out and come alive and we’ve all seen goalies just come apart along their developmental path. Cranley has size and an NHL team that believes in him, so I hope it’s the former but he wasn’t in my top 5-6 goalies I was hoping Flint would acquire and certainly not for a 3rd and a 5th.

Anybody notice Flint selected a player in the import draft? I hope that’s not a sign Kuzmin isn’t returning. That would be a huge loss. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Slavicek return either. He’s only 17 and after a bit of an adjustment period, you could see the kid had tons of potential.

 

[OHL4Life]

Well….no, I wouldn’t expect paying just a 15th for an OA, NHL signed goaltender buuuuut I sure don’t expect paying a 3rd and a 5th for an OA with an .873 save % and some pretty weak numbers over his career including post season and pre season #’s which are atrocious. Especially when you consider Flint Will have to move/release one of 5 OA candidates, 3 of which would contribute quite a bit I believe and two that are solid players that could still eat considerable minutes and be productive. NHL teams blow it on goalies all the time. Just for example, Dallas drafted Brent Moran and Flint watched him struggle as an OA goalie. As far Cavallin ‘s early #’s goes, that’s a solid and often accurate observation that I hope you are correct about but Cavallin’s numbers as an 18yo were far better than Cranley’s as a 19yo. Yes, Cav’s #’s at 16 and 17 were rough but he was 16 and 17 and I gotta think those two Flint teams were worse than Ottawa was this year. We’ve all seen goalies just bust out and come alive and we’ve all seen goalies just come apart along their developmental path. Cranley has size and an NHL team that believes in him, so I hope it’s the former but he wasn’t in my top 5-6 goalies I was hoping Flint would acquire and certainly not for a 3rd and a 5th.

Anybody notice Flint selected a player in the import draft? I hope that’s not a sign Kuzmin isn’t returning. That would be a huge loss. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Slavicek return either. He’s only 17 and after a bit of an adjustment period, you could see the kid had tons of potential.

kuzman is signed, so they get an extra pick

 

[HockeyPops]

3rd and a 5th are involved, 2024, just dont know if its both or individal based on performance. im not sold ranger is all that good either to be honest, he was waived a year ago and was out of the league.

This price sounds about right

 

[TcNorth]

Feeling much better with Cranley, knowing we only have unproven Day and Michelone in net.

 

[Savard18]

kuzman is signed, so they get an extra pick

I thought it was only for 1st round picks. I didn’t realize it had been changed. That definitely makes options interesting for OHL teams.

Feeling much better with Cranley, knowing we only have unproven Day and Michelone in net.

Why? They’re gonna have to give up a proven forward or D for a kid with significantly worse numbers than 16yo Day had.

 

[Savard18]

This price sounds about right

I’d agree. If Cranley’s save% was in the .885-.900 range. I’m aware that what OHL4Life and OMG have posted may prove to be completely accurate. They both have a track record of that....but man, that .873 save% has me worried. I don’t want to see another Brent Moran situation with what SHOULD be a contending team.

 

[bcspragu]

I’d agree. If Cranley’s save% was in the .885-.900 range. I’m aware that what OHL4Life and OMG have posted may prove to be completely accurate. They both have a track record of that....but man, that .873 save% has me worried. I don’t want to see another Brent Moran situation with what SHOULD be a contending team.

I think a little to much stock is being put on goalie numbers in the OHL. Some teams are just flat out bad at defending or have a stock of young defensemen who are learning. An NHL caliber goalie prospect is going to have bad numbers regardless of how good they are if they consistently face odd man rushes or high danger area shots. Goalies who will never see pro ice will put up great stats if the team in front of him keeps shots from the outside and limits rushes. Did Cranley stuggle at times last year? Sure. Is he also a huge framed goalie who will hopefully get better after another summer of workouts, nhl camps, and what not? 100%.

You arent out anything of value at the moment with him. Might as well give it a shot. If he doesnt make the team you eat the 15th rounder. Thats literal pennies in league currency.

 

[TcNorth]

I thought it was only for 1st round picks. I didn’t realize it had been changed. That definitely makes options interesting for OHL teams.


Why? They’re gonna have to give up a proven forward or D for a kid with significantly worse numbers than 16yo Day had.

With Flint still probably going for it all again, it was imperative we add a veteran goaltender. Having only two rookies would have been a disaster.

 

[HockeyPops]

Lol. "If he doesn't make the team". Lol.

 

[bcspragu]

Lol. "If he doesn't make the team". Lol.

Yeah hes by far the best goalie flint has. I was referring to the flint poster who seemed to think his save % and gaa was worse than Day and didnt seem to want to bring him in. Like in his worst case scenario flints only out the 15th rounder.

 

[Toldyaso]

Yeah hes by far the best goalie flint has. I was referring to the flint poster who seemed to think his save % and gaa was worse than Day and didnt seem to want to bring him in. Like in his worst case scenario flints only out the 15th rounder.

Read his posts again. His biggest problem is having to lose one of our very good OAs for what at face value is a goalie with pretty pedestrian numbers. No one knows right now who Flints best goalie is. No one is coming into the upcoming season with any kind of lock on the starting job. Dent made a move that looks like a bit of a gamble for what the ultimate cost is going to be. Read his posts again and try view it more objectively.

 

[HockeyPops]

That's not true. In the worst case it doesn't work out and Flint is out a 3rd 5th and still has to go acquire someone else. Happened to the Greyhounds with Propp a few years back.

 

[Toldyaso]

That's not true. In the worst case it doesn't work out and Flint is out a 3rd 5th and still has to go acquire someone else. Happened to the Greyhounds with Propp a few years back.

Ok you meant a 3rd, 5th, and another one of our OAs right. Which is what I said. How is any of that not true?

 

[HockeyPops]

I agree with you, my post was in reply to the one above yours

 

[Toldyaso]

I agree with you, my post was in reply to the one above yours

Got ya. Thought that might be the case but was unsure.

 

[MJ5]

Gavin Hayes #66 to Chicago at the start of the 3rd round.

Shocked Amadeus Lombardi #113 in the 4th round to Detroit, did not see that one coming, thought he would be a late 6th/7th round guy or have to earn a contract like Kressler.

 

[Savard18]

Gavin Hayes #66 to Chicago at the start of the 3rd round.

Shocked Amadeus Lombardi #113 in the 4th round to Detroit, did not see that one coming, thought he would be a late 6th/7th round guy or have to earn a contract like Kressler.

Nah. I thought I had mentioned to you that I asked an NHL scout what he thought the odds of Lombardi being drafted were and he replied “Oh, he’s definetly getting drafted. Without a doubt.” So from that reply I was thinking 5th ish. Maybe 6th with hopes he could go in the 4th. Going to Detroit is a big plus because he’ll draw in a few Wings fans to see him play. The Hawks are my team, so I’m thrilled to see them take Hayes. If I had to guess though, I think the ‘Birds go for it this year and then Gavin gets moved for a bunch in his 19yo season to a contender. Which would suck as a Flint fan but be great as a Hawks fan to see Gavin get what could be 3 lengthy playoff runs.

 

[Savard18]

Yeah hes by far the best goalie flint has. I was referring to the flint poster who seemed to think his save % and gaa was worse than Day and didnt seem to want to bring him in. Like in his worst case scenario flints only out the 15th rounder.

Well, not all things are equal but technically his GAA and Save% were worse than Nathaniel Day’s. He might light it up with a year older with a better team in front of him but if I’m trading for him, every time Ottawa suggests a 3rd I’m repeating OA. .873 save%. OA. .873 save%. I think they should have paid substantially less or picked up a goalie with a more impressive resume for those picks.

 

[bcspragu]

Well, not all things are equal but technically his GAA and Save% were worse than Nathaniel Day’s. He might light it up with a year older with a better team in front of him but if I’m trading for him, every time Ottawa suggests a 3rd I’m repeating OA. .873 save%. OA. .873 save%. I think they should have paid substantially less or picked up a goalie with a more impressive resume for those picks.

I think the problem is you keep statwatching and consider that to be the end all be all in who a player is. OHL goalie stats are almost as irrelevant as plus minus and you cant accurately compare players on different teams without looking into it deeper. Just repeating his save percentage doesnt do any good. Did he face more high danger shots than shots from the outside because he had a poor defense in front of him? Did his defende fail to control pucks re rebounded out in the corners? How man odd man rushes did he face?

The gms know this info, we dont. Flints scouts obviously felt it was a need to bring him in. Your other oas could have chosen university or you have other deals lined up. We are a bunch of randoms on the internet we have no inside info. Trust the professionals

 

[TcNorth]

Not sure why the tremendous dislike for Flint’s new goalie. I sure prefer Cranley over what we have coming back.

 

[Savard18]

I think the problem is you keep statwatching and consider that to be the end all be all in who a player is. OHL goalie stats are almost as irrelevant as plus minus and you cant accurately compare players on different teams without looking into it deeper. Just repeating his save percentage doesnt do any good. Did he face more high danger shots than shots from the outside because he had a poor defense in front of him? Did his defende fail to control pucks re rebounded out in the corners? How man odd man rushes did he face?

The gms know this info, we dont. Flints scouts obviously felt it was a need to bring him in. Your other oas could have chosen university or you have other deals lined up. We are a bunch of randoms on the internet we have no inside info. Trust the professionals

I get you’re argument. It’s a valid viewpoint that holds merit and I hope Cranley proves you right and me wrong. It’s a definite possibility. Here’s the thing. It’s an .873 save%. Not .885 or .890. His younger teammate played 27 games and had a .906 and 1.00 better GAA for the same team. That’s huge. HUGE. Now that worries but your exact argument alleviates THOSE concerns mildly. Which moves me to #2. Proven. Stud goalie. Mack Guzda went for a 3rd and a 5th months ago. Joe Ranger just went for a 4th. Proven, high quality OA goalies go for a 3rd and a 5th. Cranley very well may be the latter but he is not the former. Which leads me to #3. Flint had a glut of quality OA’s. Most of which are probably unmovable. Tyler Deline and Riley Piercey are locks in my book if they choose to return. Sahil Panwar and Zack Terry are worthy OA’s who were a near toss-up (needs based weighted) in my opinion and I personally think everybody including Flint fans underestimated the steadiness and impact of James Mayotte. One of them is gone to give a spot to Cranley. He HAS to go off to justify that. I did watch probably 10-12 periods of ‘67’s hockey this year. I don’t remember who played in net and I don’t recall either Ottawa netminder standing out either way. Good or bad. As far as the professionals.... C’mon. They’re better than us but OHL/NHL scouts blow it on goalies as much as they get it right.

Not sure why the tremendous dislike for Flint’s new goalie. I sure prefer Cranley over what we have coming back.

Well, coming from the guy who argued constantly Cavallin wasn’t the guy pretty much every year including the start of this season....

 

[dirty12]

Flint likely plans to use 4-OAs right up until they have to get down to three; but the only OA Gs worth the Firebirds pursuing during the 4 hr trade window were Constantini and Vrbetic imo.
The team must really like Cranely for some reason; and/or Dent is really confident in his younger forwards, and believes there will be significant offers for two of Panwar/Piercy and Terry from contenders in the east. They do seem like a particularly good fit for the Petes.

 

[TcNorth]

I get you’re argument. It’s a valid viewpoint that holds merit and I hope Cranley proves you right and me wrong. It’s a definite possibility. Here’s the thing. It’s an .873 save%. Not .885 or .890. His younger teammate played 27 games and had a .906 and 1.00 better GAA for the same team. That’s huge. HUGE. Now that worries but your exact argument alleviates THOSE concerns mildly. Which moves me to #2. Proven. Stud goalie. Mack Guzda went for a 3rd and a 5th months ago. Joe Ranger just went for a 4th. Proven, high quality OA goalies go for a 3rd and a 5th. Cranley very well may be the latter but he is not the former. Which leads me to #3. Flint had a glut of quality OA’s. Most of which are probably unmovable. Tyler Deline and Riley Piercey are locks in my book if they choose to return. Sahil Panwar and Zack Terry are worthy OA’s who were a near toss-up (needs based weighted) in my opinion and I personally think everybody including Flint fans underestimated the steadiness and impact of James Mayotte. One of them is gone to give a spot to Cranley. He HAS to go off to justify that. I did watch probably 10-12 periods of ‘67’s hockey this year. I don’t remember who played in net and I don’t recall either Ottawa netminder standing out either way. Good or bad. As far as the professionals.... C’mon. They’re better than us but OHL/NHL scouts blow it on goalies as much as they get it right.


Well, coming from the guy who argued constantly Cavallin wasn’t the guy pretty much every year including the start of this season....

Attacking a New Flint player, not once, but repeatedly, really isn’t a good look for you or any Flint fan!

 

[TcNorth]

N/M