Spitfires GM Bowler is cautious as OHL’s trade deadline approaches in hopes of continuing to play

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Time is running out for Windsor Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler, even if the future remains uncertain.

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With his club just shy of first place in the Western Division, Bowler has until Friday at 12 noon to trade in for a surplus player and until Monday at 12 noon to make a deal before the general deadline of Ontario Hockey League trades.

“We’re talking (with other teams),” Bowler said Tuesday. “You’re always talking to people, but we’ll see.”

Of course, the league could eventually choose to delay the date due to current circumstances, but OHL officials haven’t even commented on the league’s plans as of Wednesday, when the Ontario government will move the province to modified protocols. from Step Two due to increasing numbers of COVID-19.

Because the OHL is considered an elite amateur league, it can continue to play, but at a cost with no fans in the stands.

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“We’re still planning to get on a bus and go,” Bowler said of the game scheduled for Wednesday at 7 pm in Guelph against the Storm, which is still on the OHL schedule.

But as the clock ticks on to make a deal to improve the list, Bowler admits there are some doubts with an uncertain future.

“The uncertainty is crazy,” Bowler said. “Are we going to keep the schedule? What will the playoff schedule be like? It has added a lot of wrinkles in the decision making. “

London already set the precedent in an exchange last week for Camaryn Baber. London sent two picks to Saginaw for the surplus forward. One selection is conditional on the completion of the OHL playoffs this season.

“You have to protect yourself,” Bowler said. “It is imperative to protect yourself.”

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Bowler wouldn’t be surprised if more conditions were put in place, depending on how things progress, in the pre-deadline deals.

“Obviously, with our team being sent home (last week) and the latest announcements (from the government), it’s been very difficult to figure out what the hockey outlook will be like,” Bowler said.

With head coach Marc Savard coming on board just before the season, it took a while for the club to get on track, but Bowler is happy with the team’s position at this stage with points in eight of his last nine games.

“At Christmas, we were a team tied for first in the division,” Bowler said. “We like our group and we don’t think we played our best hockey. We have new players and coaches and the chemistry was coming. We did a good section ”.

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Bowler has already played adding experience with forwards Alex Christopoulos of North Bay and Jacob Maillet of Guelph.

“We are very happy with those acquisitions,” Bowler said. “They are quality young people who have adapted very well to our dressing room, but they also performed and served the club well.”

And despite some coveted pieces on the current list, Bowler insists he’s not looking to sell by the deadline.

“No, we were tied for first place a week ago so we are not in sell mode,” Bowler said. “We have a lot of quality players and they have asked me a lot in all age groups. That’s good when other teams recognize your team’s talent. “

With a solid core returning next year, Bowler is expected to tweak the roster, but with the current climate it’s hard to imagine a hugely successful deal emerging before any of the deadlines.

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“I think this group, looking around this division and where we are and where I think we can go, we really like our team,” Bowler said. “You can always improve, but I think this group has great growth within. When all things are considered equal, we think we can win our division and get the second seed (of the conference) in the worst case.

“To achieve that (highly successful addition), you are mortgaging your future. We think we’re good this year, we think we’re good next year too, and we were a ranked team last year, even if we don’t play.

“You are always looking to improve, within reason, but we owe it to the fans to bring out a quality team and fight for a division. You try to be so consistent and have a good team year after year ”.

Johnston honored

Spitfires center Wyatt Johnston was named OHL December Player of the Month on Tuesday.

Johnston, 18, who was selected in the first round by the NHL’s Dallas Stars in 2021, scored seven goals and 19 points in eight games in December to help the club achieve a 6-1-1-0 record over that. section.

Johnston is fifth overall in the league with 18 goals and 46 points from 27 games.

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