Flint Firebirds 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part I

[SoupNazi]

Continued from Flint Firebirds 2023 - 24 Off-Season Thread

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[MJ5]

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	Karlis Flugins - Import
	Joushua Colosimo - 06 - Rookie
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
Christian Colosimo 08 - Rookie - 4th round		Jack D'Arcy 07 - 4 GP - 0 P

 

[TomBlizzy12]

Hopefully Konyen gets NHL offers after the season

 

[MJ5]

Hopefully Konyen gets NHL offers after the season

Long season, but he had a good opening weekend.

 

[Gumdrop]

Blake Smith is suspended for 2 games per the league website for throwing his stick after receiving the misconduct.

 

[MJ5]

Blake Smith is suspended for 2 games per the league website for throwing his stick after receiving the misconduct.

Well that's a boneheaded move.

 

[Savard18]

Long season, but he had a good opening weekend.

He did. I was most impressed by Thibodeau, Collins and Frolov as far as the new kids go.

Well that's a boneheaded move.

Yup. He’s too valuable to the team and part of the leadership group now. He’ll have to show better composure and decision making going forward. Next game vs a Kitchener that just got whooped by Windsor. They will come out ready and flying.

 

[MJ5]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841614274663481601

Huge fan of these.

 

[Gumdrop]

I like these a lot. Really nice!

I like how they kept the it a solid color under the arms and sleeves. Ive never liked that with the Firebird jerseys. I'd use this template on the home and away jerseys too honestly.

 

[Savard18]

Obviously need to see more but decent debut from Podrekar. Konyen getting it done again. I really like Thibodeau so far too. Speed to burn, hustles his ass off and back checks too. Does well to distribute pucks and has had his own chances too. I’m not sure if he just needs time to gel with his linemates or if a different center/LW would suit him better but if him and the staff can figure it out, he’s gonna go off this year. Outside of one really, really rough shift I was once again impressed with Frolov too. Collins has been more impressive than I expected and Mania needs to step up a bit. They need him to help drive the offense and be smart with the puck. With the Bertucci trade, he’s gotta be one of if the not thee guy on the backend. Nice to see Day find his form tonight.

I like these a lot. Really nice!

I like how they kept the it a solid color under the arms and sleeves. Ive never liked that with the Firebird jerseys. I'd use this template on the home and away jerseys too honestly.

Agreed. I don’t like the cut of the jerseys and I think there’s a seam down the underside of the arms too. I don’t think I’d like playing in those jersey’s much.

 

[frontsfan67]

Thibodeau with 7 pts in 4 games so far. Knew he would light it up with you guys. Last 2 years he was towards the top in scoring with the fronts

 

[Savard18]

Thibodeau with 7 pts in 4 games so far. Knew he would light it up with you guys. Last 2 years he was towards the top in scoring with the fronts

I haven’t seen any issues with him yet and don’t see what some of the Fronts fans were complaining about. He seems to get along with his teammates well. Kid hustles his ass off. Once again tonight, he gets a breakaway and still he’s the first kid back. He distributes the puck well, he and his linemates just aren’t fully clicking where they’re finishing the chances he gives them yet. Same with him, he could convert a little more on his opportunities but I have no complaints with his production or effort. I expect as the season goes on those chances will end up in the back of the net more frequently.

 

[frontsfan67]

I haven’t seen any issues with him yet and don’t see what some of the Fronts fans were complaining about.

From my understanding I believe it was his dad and maybe things behind the scenes but I don’t know enough about it to really talk about. One thing for sure though- he can definitely put the points up.

He seems to get along with his teammates well. Kid hustles his ass off. Once again tonight, he gets a breakaway and still he’s the first kid back. He distributes the puck well, he and his linemates just aren’t fully clicking where they’re finishing the chances he gives them yet. Same with him, he could convert a little more on his opportunities but I have no complaints with his production or effort. I expect as the season goes on those chances will end up in the back of the net more frequently.

Absolutely. I always noticed him hustling out there.

Yes I think he’s going to be your leading scorer this season. I predict 80+ points. Then following year he may hit triple digits

 

[MJ5]

Thibodeau/Collins have been excellent.

 

[MJ5]

Tough one tonight.

Clatty went down awkward and into the boards. Didn't look serious, but he didn't return.

I know you need to rotate some guys in, but Frolov shouldn't be sitting unless he's sick or something.

 

[three dog night]

Good mid week crowd

 

[donjohnson]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841614274663481601

Huge fan of these.

Really cool looking jerseys!

 

[Savard18]

With the way the first few games have went I’m becoming concerned that going for it this year might not be the best idea. I think in order to truly compete with London and any other West contenders (I’m not concerned about the East until I’m confident they have the ability to potentially make it to the Finals) they’re going to need a 1C, 1D, and and 1 or 2LW. I’m not sure they have the assets or ability to acquire that. It’s still early and they’ve played decent but if it wasn’t for strong games from Nathan their record wouldn’t look good right now and they’ve yet to play anybody legit.

 

[Savard18]

With the NCAA rule change towards allowing CHL players to play in the NCAA looming, players have already begun to leave their USHL teams to join CHL clubs. A UofM commit to the WHL and a Penn State commit to the Q. McParlan needs to be on the phone hard with kids like Dryden Allen, Darian Anderson, Chase Hull etc.

 

[Savard18]

Sennecke and Barlow have a combined 0pts in 5 games so far. I’m thinking one or both get on the scoreboard tonight. Oshawa without potential returnees Ritchie and Roobreck but this should be Flint’s biggest test of the season so far. We’ll see if they can pass the test because so far they’ve been a C+ type team.

 

[MJ5]

Sennecke and Barlow have a combined 0pts in 5 games so far. I’m thinking one or both get on the scoreboard tonight. Oshawa without potential returnees Ritchie and Roobreck but this should be Flint’s biggest test of the season so far. We’ll see if they can pass the test because so far they’ve been a C+ type team.

Sounds like Clattenburg will be out. We shall see.

 

[Savard18]

Sounds like Clattenburg will be out. We shall see.

Not surprised. At first I was hoping he just got the wind knocked out of him but when he didn’t return…. That hurts. I think they’re already a little thin as far a C’s and LW’s go.

 

[MJ5]

Solid W tonight. That's the best 6 on D easily. Thought Mania looked better, looked aggressive.

Day has been very sound.

Wonder if we see Brown in net tomorrow on the short turnaround?

 

[Savard18]

Best game they’ve played all year. Even guys I’m usually critical of like Kostov had good games. I was impressed by a few a plays Alex made tonight. If they can replicate that on a mostly consistent basis things will go well for them. Oh, and all you Nathan Day doubters…..

 

[MJ5]

Brutal 3rd.