A joke was recently circulated among the fans of the Augsburg Panthers.
If there is anyone who can still prevent the threat of relegation from the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), then it is Peter Russell.
Which is surprising at first, because the coach Russell was fired a few weeks ago in Augsburg.
The highlight of the idea, however, lies in a special situation: because the DEL wants to shrink again from 15 to 14 teams, the bottom of the table is definitely relegated, the penultimate only if there is a climber from the DEL2.
And that's not certain, because only a handful of second division clubs meet the economic and infrastructural conditions of the DEL.
But not third-placed Ravensburg Towerstars, and that's where Peter Russell found a new job in mid-January.
So if he leads the Ravensburger to the second division championship, he saves his old employer – the penultimate table in the first division from Augsburg.
There is a reason why the Panthers now have to cling to such scenarios: The DEL founding member is playing such a weak season that it will almost certainly end the main round in 14th place.
Lots of unanswered questions
There are still eleven games left, but the gap to 13th place (Berlin) is already 15 points.
If the Augsburgers finish second to last, as expected, they will be dependent on outside help – and even worse: they will then be left in limbo for weeks.
Because when the main round of the DEL is over, that is by no means the case for the play-offs in the second division.
But only when a champion is determined there will it be clear whether there will be one or two relegations from the DEL.
Coach Kai Suikkanen thinks that's no less "crazy", as he said to the specialist magazine "Eishockey News" these days: "How do you put a team together when you don't even know which league you're playing in?
Who wants to come to a team without knowing where you play?” There are also economic questions to which there will be no answer for weeks: How much TV money will flow in the future?
Which sponsor stays?
How many fans buy season tickets if it is not clear whether they will see Munich, Mannheim and Berlin or Landshut, Selb and Bad Nauheim next year?
Those fans are already a topic in Augsburg.
For years, the atmosphere in the Curt Frenzel Stadium was considered one of the best in the league.
No matter how things went for the Panthers, their audience was always loud and passionate.
But that's the end of this season.
The fans are still loyal, with an average of 5387 Augsburg is in sixth place in the spectator table.
But weeks ago there was a silent protest with a large poster: "Earn this curve."
squad without identity
It was finally over on Sunday because her team gave such an uninspired performance in the sold-out derby against Ingolstadt that any cheering would have been in vain.
It was 0:1 after just 22 seconds, 0:2 after less than two and a half minutes, and finally 0:5.
Not the first disappointment.
Harsh claps alternate cheerfully with late playful tours.
Or there is bad luck, as with the wrong decisions of the referees in Berlin, which cost them points.
Consequently, after 44 matchdays there are only twelve wins and minus 48 goals.
With the return of former national goalkeeper Dennis Endras things should go uphill again.
But the opposite happened.
According to constant observers, this is also due to the fact that popular players have been given up since reaching the semi-finals in 2019 and the current squad has no identity.
Accordingly, little passion can be felt.
Which for many is worse than any bad pass.
This Friday (7.30 p.m. at MagentaSport) should be different again.
Then Augsburg needs a win, because there is a basement duel with the only team that is even worse: Bietigheim at the bottom.
Maybe you should let that catch you, it's even said in Augsburg now, then you'll at least know which league you're playing in next season.
"As stupid as it may sound - it might be easier to plan," said sports manager Duanne Moeser to the "Donaukurier".
Others have even more hope: Her name is Peter Russell.