Firebirds GM in driver’s seat
Montreal Canadiens draft pick Will Bitten and two of his teammates may have requested a trade out of Flint but it is Firebirds general manager George Burnett who holds the keys to any deal.
Bitten, a 1998 birth-year centre who scored 30 goals for Flint last season before being taken by Montreal in the third round of this year’s National Hockey League draft, will no doubt fetch a good return from the Ottawa 67’s (his preferred destination) or any other Ontario Hockey League team that is willing to pay the price.
And let’s remember one thing.
Bitten may want out of Flint but there is no reason for Burnett to be pressured into making a trade that is not good for the Firebirds, particularly with the start of the OHL regular season still three weeks away.
Bitten, 1997 birth-year forward Cullen Mercer and 1999 birth-year goalie Kyle Keyser may have started the engine by requesting to be traded out of Flint.
But it is smooth operator Burnett who is in the driver’s seat.
Who has the last say in any Flint trade…..Burnett or Branch? What if either London or Windsor is interested in any of the 3 players?
Burnett.
The 67’s would benefit from the Bitten trade, but Ottawa would have to give up a few good players in return. Windsor is stocking up on talent for the Memorial Cup, because going in thru the back door is not what they want. The Spitfires would make Flint an offer, but that will take away a player’s chance of playing in the Memorial Cup.