Cologne sharks: construction site defense! Will Bailen really leave the city?

Cologne sharks: construction site defense! Will Bailen really leave the city?

shock for the Cologne sharks! On Sunday you lost an exciting DEL game against the Straubing Tigers in the Lanxess-Arena at home 3: 4. Around 17,848 spectators were looking forward to a win, but the team could not convince. Despite a comeback by goalkeeper Julius Hudacek, who was injured for three weeks, there was no defensive stability. Coach Kari Jalons said disappointed: "We have allowed too many simple goals." The sharks end the weekend with just one point after they had also lost in Nuremberg. With just 41 points from 28 games, they are in sixth place in the table and endanger their playoff qualification, especially since they failed this phase last season when they broke out in the same period as ksta.de reported.

uncertain fate for bailen

In addition, the uncertain fate of defender Nick Bailen, who has been missing since mid -November. According to reports, the 35-year-old could soon return to the KHL, where he was already playing for Dinamo Minsk and Tscheljabinsk. Russian media report that Bailen is looking for a new team and is considering a return to Russia. This would ultimately be a financial relief for the KEC, since it has a contract until 2026 and belongs to the best -earning players in the team. However, the foreigner license that bails held cannot be transferred to another player, which puts Cologne under pressure on the defensive. Sports director Matthias Baldys already planned to use this license strategically, and announced possible transfers until mid -February, as haie.de reported.

The next game for the sharks is on Bremerhaven on Thursday, and the team urgently has to score so as not to slip in the table.