This is a big OHL deal
Flint Firebirds have dealt holdout centre Will Bitten to the Hamilton Bulldogs in exchange for two players and two draft picks.
In return, Flint gets 6-foot-6, 1999 birth-year defenseman Fedor Gordeev, 1997 birth-year goalie Connor Hicks and second-round draft picks in 2019 and 2020 from Hamilton. Besides Bitten, who has a 1998 birth date, Hamilton gets a 12th-round pick in 2017.
“We made our team better with this trade,” Flint general manager George Burnett told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “Connor is a proven front-line goalie in our league and Fedor is a top young prospect with good size.”
Both players are familiar to Burnett, who was Hamilton’s coach and general manager last season.
The addition of Hicks between the pipes gives Flint three goalies.
1998 birth-year Matthew Menna and 1997 birth-year Garrett Forrest are Flint’s two other goalies. Both already have shutouts this season for the Firebirds, who are off to a 2-1 start to the 2016-2017 Ontario Hockey League campaign.
Burnett said the status of Menna and Forrest is “to be determined. I don’t have an answer for you at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton general manager Steve Staios outlined what he feels Bitten — who had requested a trade from Flint — will bring to the Bulldogs.
“He will provide us with speed, skill and work ethic and be an integral piece of our hockey club moving forward,” Staois said of his new acquisition.
By By Bitten!
A good trade for Flint in so many ways to begin with the Players that they got and the Draft picks that they can trade for addition-al Players should they choose to do so. Hats off to George Burnet for making a good trade that helps Flint both now and later.
Will Bitten is an OHL superstar Hamilton will be the winner this year and probably next. What the Firebirds get with the picks and how well Fedor plays will hopefully even this trade out…
A trade which obviously Burnett was comfortable with having coached both players last year. He knows what he is getting. I appreciate him taking his time and making a good deal for Flint now, and in the future.
This is a good trade by the Firebirds re gardless of what the Saginaw radio annouser Mr. Batanno thinks!