Flint Firebirds 2023 - 24 Off-Season Thread

[Petes1987]

Any insight on what we can expect from him? From what I gather he is a physical forward who was one of the top face off guys in the league.

He played most of his OHL career with the Peterborough Petes. As you said he is one of the top players on face offs. He is a really good physical forward who can provide points. He was key to Peterborough’s OHL Championship win in 2023.

 

[FrontalLobe]

was an important part of the Petes Champoo

He played most of his OHL career with the Peterborough Petes. As you said he is one of the top players on face offs. He is a really good physical forward who can provide points. He was key to Peterborough’s OHL Championship win in 2023.

Great 2 way player and dressing room guy as well.

 

[OHL Fan]

Both Niagara and flint kind of take the L here in my mind- flint just got all those players only for theirbest player and a top d man in the league to say ya sorry guys I don’t wanna be here. Going to really hurt them this year on their backend.

Bertucci wants out and thus Flint has no choice to make the best of their situation, which I am sure they will.

Also, Bertucci is a good dman but not an elite dman, and his stats support that.

Just my opinion

 

[MJ5]

Podrekar would make the most logical sense looking at their roster. I'd hope to god it isn't Frolov.

 

[frontsfan67]

Bertucci wants out and thus Flint has no choice to make the best of their situation, which I am sure they will.

Also, Bertucci is a good dman but not an elite dman, and his stats support that.

Just my opinion

Similar to the frasca and thibodeau situation then. Obviously those 2 aren’t on Bertuccis level and will be back after this year but comparable in the sense of them all wanting out.

A top pairing d man that will be getting an invite to a team Canada camp and may be around a point per game while being a stay at home/ 2 way d man has some value. The only thing potentially taking away the value is if other teams know he wants out.

 

[MJ5]

Niagara traded Bert before we did. haha

 

[OHL4Life]

Niagara traded Bert before we did. haha

you guys did very well

 

[MJ5]

 

[OHL4Life]

Niagara is worse today then yesterday and spend more picks to do it

 

[MJ5]

Barrie Recieves	Flint Recieves	Niagara Recives
Tristian Bertucci	Artem Frolov	Jack Brauti
	Urban Podrekar	Blair Scott
	Rights - Hayden Reid	2nd 2026 BAR
	2nd 2025 OSH	3rd 2027 WSR
	2nd 2026 PBO	4th 2025 KGN
	3rd 2026 NB	8th 2025 FNT
	3rd 2027 SBY	14th 2025 FNT
	3rd 2027 OS	*3rd 2028 PBO

LW	C	RW
Connor Clattenburg - 05 - 60 GP - 29 P	Kaden Pitre 06 - 35 GP - 30 P	Evan Konyen *04* - 55 GP - 48 P
Nathan Aspinall 06 - 65 GP - 34 P	Jimmy Lombardi 07 - 62 GP - 20 P	Christopher Thibodeau 05 - 68 GP 60 P
Matthew Wang 05 - 61 GP - 11 P	Xavier Tessier - 08 Rookie - 2nd round	Alex Kostov 06 - 66 GP - 26 P
Jeremy Martin 07 - 64 GP - 14 P	Max Anderson - 07 - 18 GP - 0 P	Cole Zurawski - 08 Rookie - 1st round
Ryland Cunningham - 08 - Rookie - 2nd round	Gage Brandon - 08 Rookie - 3rd round
LD	G	RD
Urban Podrekar 05 - 62 GP - 22 P	Nathan Day 05	Matthew Mania 05 - 45 GP - 23 P
Blake Smith *04* - 65 GP - 13 P	Jacob Brown 06	Nolan Collins *04* - 65 GP - 26 P
Artyom Frolov 07 - 67 GP - 12 P		Rylan Fellinger 07 - 58 GP - 4 P
Mason Taylor 06 - 3 GP - 0 P		Jack D'Arcy 07 - 4 GP - 0 P

 

[Kingpin794]

Barrie gets a top pair D. Flint gets 2 solid D options AND more picks to buy with. Niagara....net spends picks to downgrade their blue line. Never change, Niagara.

 

[Savard18]

Damn. Dissapointed to see Tristan go, but if he needs to be closer to home that’s a pretty good return. Frolov was a high 2nd round pick last year and from all I’ve read, he’s already a solid young D. I watched very little of the Ice Dogs last year so I don’t really have my own opinion on him yet. That’s about the return I’d expect for Andonovski this year and he’s probably the most coveted D on the market this year.

 

[three dog night]

Niagara is worse today then yesterday and spend more picks to do it

No there not

 

[bigsportsfan]

Yes they are three dog night. The trade was ridiculous for the Icedogs.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Barrie gets a top pair D. Flint gets 2 solid D options AND more picks to buy with. Niagara....net spends picks to downgrade their blue line. Never change, Niagara.

Yes but D.D got Paid. LOL.
Same song and dance every season with that guy.

 

[tjziel]

So with you guys trading Bertucci, are you guys sellers now? Or what is Flint doing now?

 

[MJ5]

So with you guys trading Bertucci, are you guys sellers now? Or what is Flint doing now?

Flints buying.

Those picks acquired im guessing will be traded.

Bertucci wanted to be closer to home for personal reasons. This is a win all the way around.

 

[tdot]

Yes but D.D got Paid. LOL.
Same song and dance every season with that guy.

Do teams pay money under the table to icedogs or is it just that icedogs deliberately save money on school packages through trades which decreases the value they get in return? Or both?

 

[MJ5]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1825593577696875004

 

[ScoutLife4]

Do teams pay money under the table to icedogs or is it just that icedogs deliberately save money on school packages through trades which decreases the value they get in return? Or both?

A lot of it is getting out of schooling costs but money definitely is known to be exchanged.

 

[tdot]

A lot of it is getting out of schooling costs but money definitely is known to be exchanged.

Lol, what a joke, why would he buy the team if he can't afford/doesn't want to pay for the costs associated with it...

Was at the Kingston @ Icedogs game 10-1 in club and he was just staring at his phone the whole time and didn't seem to care at all

 

[Petes1987]

The Petes just acquired Matthew Jenken from Flint. Can a Firebirds fan provide some insight on what the Petes can expect from him?

 

[ScoutLife4]

Lol, what a joke, why would he buy the team if he can't afford/doesn't want to pay for the costs associated with it...

Was at the Kingston @ Icedogs game 10-1 in club and he was just staring at his phone the whole time and didn't seem to care at all

These are questions the fan base should all be asking.
Its an embarrassment

 

[dogs777]

These are questions the fan base should all be asking.
Its an embarrassment

A lot of fans have been asking this

 

[Savard18]

These are questions the fan base should all be asking.
Its an embarrassment

I know someone who worked at a local hotel and they pointed out that when teams like London/Kitchener roll in there’s like 8-10 staff/coaches staying with catered meals set up for everybody and all kinds of stuff. Niagara? Like 5 staff members, no pre-arranged meals for the kids. It’s not hard for me to believe all the stories coming out about DD and the org which is scary because that’s one of best locations/arena/fanbases around. You shouldn’t need to cut corners to make them a success on or off the ice.