Firebirds move picks out, bring veterans in as OHL trade freeze lifts
Just two days after the rival Saginaw Spirit hoisted the Memorial Cup up the I-75, the Flint Firebirds made some headlines of their own.
Flint General Manager Dave McParlan was busy, bringing in a number of veterans that can help the ‘Birds contend in 2024-25 while trading away a glut of draft selections in exchange.
Flint’s first move came with the Sudbury Wolves, a team with an abundance of 2004-born players and limited roster spots to put them moving into next season. The Firebirds acquired a pair of overage candidates in forward Evan Konyen and defenceman Nolan Collins, a former draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also brought in Los Angeles Kings prospect Matthew Mania, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, along with the rights to forward Josh Colosimo, who spent the 2023-24 season with the OJHL’s Georgetown Raiders and Brantford 99ers. In exchange, the Firebirds dealt defenceman Gavin Ewles and forward Daks Klinkhammer along with nine draft picks, most notably a fourth-round pick in 2025, along with two seconds and two thirds in 2027.
The Firebirds add a pair of American-born players in the deal as Konyen hails from Mars, Pennsylvania while Mania is a product of Olmsted, Ohio.
“We are thrilled with the players we’ve acquired in this trade, all of whom will help to make us better immediately,” McParlan said. “The trades we have made recently have built up our stockpile of assets which has given us the ability to get these high-end players. Making this move so early in the year shows ownership’s commitment to having a winning team.”
The Firebirds weren’t done there, shortly after picking up forward Christopher Thibodeau and a 2028 fourth-round pick from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for seven selections, most notably a fifth-round pick in 2025, a third in 2026, second in 2027 and third in 2028.
Thibodeau, who enters next season as one of the OHL’s fastest skaters, had 21 goals and 39 assists for 60 points over 68 games last season. He played his minor hockey since the age of 11 between the ALLIANCE Waterloo Wolves and Kitchener Jr. Rangers, but Thibodeau, whose father Ken played minor pro in the United States, also spent much of his childhood in Charleston, South Carolina.
“Thibodeau will bring an exciting element of speed to our already dangerous lineup,” said McParlan. “He is skilled and fast, one of the fastest players in the league. This is another high-end player we were able to go get thanks to our stockpile of assets, and we are excited to see how he fits in with our group.”
In all, the Firebirds moved out 15 draft selections along with one conditional pick, but add four proven OHL veterans to their lineup next fall, making them an intriguing team to keep an eye on in a wide open West Division.
OHL clubs may engage in trades up until Friday, June 28th at noon when the summer trade freeze comes into effect.
