Flint Firebirds 2015 Off-Season Thread

[FireBird71]

When Vili Saarijarvi shows up, in Flint Firebirds.
Lake Placid preseason tourney is over, so what's next stop for Vili.

Is he going to Detroit Red Wings training camp, or does he come directly to Flint.
How i could follow Vili's regular season games in Flint.

I live southern Finland, and Finnish sport channels won't show CHL games in Finland.

I know he's going to the prospects camp...not sure on Red Wings training camp

 

[FireBird71]

Red Wings draft pick checking out Flint

https://twitter.com/flintfirebirds/status/630494477933780992

 

[TcNorth]

We need all the help we can get, particualry from the scoring side of things. Sounding good for the two imports (Villi from Finland and Kanter from Czechoslovakia) would be a good start to go with Bitten, Moore, Johnstone and several others. In that second picture posted by FireBird71 you can see where the new media suite will be in the upper left of the picture next to the Blue Line Club, however, the scoreboard shown is stll the old one.

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

Just a little of what you can expect from Zach Grzelewski

Kid never takes a shift off and competes for all 200ft of ice. Good skater, good shot, also good on the puck pursuit portion of the game. He should fit in nicely into the Firebirds top 9, whereas in London I doubt he would have cracked their top 14 at forward. Very nice addition and I wish the kid well..I like his game.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Just a little of what you can expect from Zach Grzelewski

Kid never takes a shift off and competes for all 200ft of ice. Good skater, good shot, also good on the puck pursuit portion of the game. He should fit in nicely into the Firebirds top 9, whereas in London I doubt he would have cracked their top 14 at forward. Very nice addition and I wish the kid well..I like his game.

Those types of players are always fun to watch develop. Tom Wilson was this type of player, and it was great watching him grow from an awkward youngster into an eventual first round NHL draft pick. Keep an eye on this guy, Flint fans.

 

[Macker88]

For all you Firebirds fans, here's a link to an article we did on the recent trade for Zach Grzelewski,

http://overtimesportsnation.com/firebirds-acquire-grzelewski-from-london/

 

[tjziel]

Question here Flint fans, is Sonny Milano expected to be back with you guys or is he AHL eligible??

 

[EON]

Question here Flint fans, is Sonny Milano expected to be back with you guys or is he AHL eligible??

He was drafted out of the NDP so he is AHL eligible.

 

[TcNorth]

Question here Flint fans, is Sonny Milano expected to be back with you guys or is he AHL eligible??

Milano is not expected back with Flint and the OHL. He will more than likely be in the AHL this year with the Columbus Blue Jackets AAA farm club. Attached, is an article about the trade for Grezelewski with London in today's Flint Journal:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2015/08/flint_firebirds_add_forward_za.html

 

[Duke Guy]

The Columbus farm club is the Lake Erie Monsters.

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

The Columbus farm club is the Lake Erie Monsters.

Did they change affiliations? I thought it was the Springfield Falcons...thought Lake Erie was Colorado

 

[FireBird71]

It's official

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...i-flint-firebirds-detroit-red-wings/31471689/

 

[AnotherDimwit]

Did they change affiliations? I thought it was the Springfield Falcons...thought Lake Erie was Colorado

Yeah they just changed this offseason.

It's official

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...i-flint-firebirds-detroit-red-wings/31471689/

Awesome. Great news.

 

[TcNorth]

Here is the article about Vili in today's Flint Journal. This is great news for Flint and this Detroit Red Wings prospect:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2015/08/source_detroit_red_wings_prosp.html#incart_river

 

[TcNorth]

Wednesday August 12th, the NHL's Detroit Red Wings 3rd round pick, Vili Saarijarvi officially signs standard OHL Contract with the Flint Firebirds. A major coup for Firebirds management. Flint Journal article below:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/i...it_red_wings_prospect_vil_1.html#incart_river

PS: The away Jersey's look awesome.

 

[the dog]

opening game 35 single seats left...but don't see any standing room? do they sell the later?

 

[TcNorth]

opening game 35 single seats left...but don't see any standing room? do they sell the later?

I am sure they will start selling standing room tickets soon.

 

[AnotherDimwit]

Agreed TC. So much better than the Photoshops.

 

[OSMike]

Any news/rumors on your first round pick? We went through the same thing 2 years ago. I can imagine its weighing on you as fans. Looking forward to seeing the Firebirds up in OS this season.

When is the window close before you lose the comp first round pick again??

 

[TcNorth]

The Firebirds have signed up with 1330 WTRX and it's four sister stations to broadcast all 68 games, the playoffs, and a weekly coaches show on Tuesday nights in the Flint and Genesee County area. This is another feather in the cap of Costa Papista and Firebirds management. Looking forward to hearing Dominic on Firebird broadcasts.

 

[Rubbers29]

Any news/rumors on your first round pick? We went through the same thing 2 years ago. I can imagine its weighing on you as fans. Looking forward to seeing the Firebirds up in OS this season.

When is the window close before you lose the comp first round pick again??

I believe they have to wait until he doesn't show for camp to declare him defected and then they have a week or two to trade him, OS didn't trade Mete's rights last year until Sept 8th even though they knew he wasn't going to be there for most of the summer. Niagara 's camp opened Aug 26th last year and Logan Brown was traded to Windsor that afternoon after not showing up to camp in the morning. I would imagine that is the hold up on that deal as of now

 

[FireBird71]

McLeod should've came to Flint to check things out..Matyas Kantner said he can't wait to get here..told me he should be here in 10-11 days. Took my oldest up to the rink yesterday to get some stuff since he lves over near Muskegon. Can't wait for season to start

 

[the dog]

how many standing room tickets are there?

 

[punch1943]

McLeod should've came to Flint to check things out..Matyas Kantner said he can't wait to get here..told me he should be here in 10-11 days. Took my oldest up to the rink yesterday to get some stuff since he lves over near Muskegon. Can't wait for season to start

My guess is you'll be much better off without him.
At a minimum you end up with a 1st round compensation pick next season (#5)
plus 3 2nd round picks and probably a 3rd. Players are not allowed to come as part of the compensation But nudge,wink you'll most likely find a couple arriving in a separate deal.

 

[TcNorth]

how many standing room tickets are there?

Previous arena owners/teams sold 400 standing room tickets. I suspect Nilsen/Papista and company will do the same, making the Dort Federal Event Center one of the smaller in the OHL at a total capacity (including standing room) at 4,400. Who is smaller in the "O"?