Chris Johnston

And, you know, obviously I think they want the Marlies to be competitive as well.

And so there's definitely a balance there.

um you know we've seen them call up a couple forwards and and you'll be playing the quillen and bull grew here for a little while and and you know i would think as things get a little closer to the end you'll see a bit more of it but look i mean the least it's it's a no-win spot i i feel like for the organization right now i mean uh they didn't expect clearly to be this low in the standings there's still so many games left even at this point i mean we're getting towards the end but three three busy weeks still before the end of the regular season and

You also need your NHL players being willing to not play, which is not something I think too many of them are willing to do necessarily.

So it's just kind of this weird time where we know they're playing out the string and the rules of the league.

It's not like September in baseball where teams that are out of it can call up everybody.

I mean, the NHL doesn't work that way.

And so there's some limitations there as well.

I feel pretty good that they're going to get in just because their form has been so good.

You know, they've consistently just out shooting, out chanting teams, doing the things you need to have success.

They've obviously won a lot of games to climb back into it and actually, you know, get into a wildcard spot now.

And, you know, the teams are going up against.

you know, kind of faded off, right?

Detroit hasn't been nearly as good.

Boston's, you know, I know they got a win last night in Buffalo, but they've kind of not looked as strong here in the last little while.

So I think Ottawa's well positioned even with the injuries to get in there.

But this loss of Shabbat, I mean, there's no positive spin to be put on that.

You know, the fact that they say it could be four, six or eight weeks, that's

the first round the second round or the third round depending on where he lands on that that timeline and so you know that's a lot to ask i think you know whether they can go on a playoff run if he's not able to be available you know on the lower end of that timeline just because he soaks up so many minutes for them obviously their blue line you know jake sanderson's getting close to his return here in the next few days or early next week so you know that's a positive but that this is the kind of injury i think that could maybe limit what they can do once you get in the playoffs but

That being said, the East is, in my eyes, still pretty wide open this year.