Fribourg-Gotteron
Game Day 1 against Graz99ers, Game Day 2 against KAC
Their first-ever championship title – after Servette Genf three seasons prior, Fribourg broke the phalanx of NL champions from German-speaking Switzerland.
Not only due to the injury woes in Graz, the team under Swedish coach Roger Rönnberg is naturally a clear favorite heading into the CHL opener.
Key Players
Not every import player in the NL needs to be a point-scorer. Swede Patrik Nemeth (34) has been considered a physically strong and rock-solid defensive defenseman for years. After two years in Bern, Nemeth, who can look back on over 500 NHL appearances, embodied the team's physical presence, especially in the playoffs.
A consistent point-scorer in the NL and the national team for years, aside from three years in the Minnesota organization: Forward Christoph Bertschy, at 32, still has several good years ahead of him. The intelligent right-shot forward has always managed at least 50 regular season appearances in the last eight seasons – he seems to be immune to injuries.
An Austrian is also newly part of the Gotteron squad: Jonas Taibel moved from Rapperswil to Fribourg before the season. The 22-year-old forward, who holds two passports thanks to his parents, decided to play for Switzerland already in his junior years.
Bordeaux
Game Day 1 against KAC, Game Day 2 against Graz99ers
KAC will also face a freshly crowned champion in their CHL opener: Bordeaux has only been part of Ligue Magnus for eleven years, winning the league for the first time after finishing fourth in the regular season.
Similar to Ajoie in Switzerland, they primarily rely on Franco-Canadians in their nine import slots.
Key Players
At 24, defenseman Jules Boscq can already look back on an interesting career: After two years in the ECHL with Iowa and a partial season with HPK Hämeenlinna, he returned to his home club during the last season. He is also among the "newer" players in a national team that has long been aging.
Winger Tommy Giroux was the best team scorer in both the regular season and the playoffs. At 34, the small winger is already heading into his ninth season in France, interrupted only by one year in Aalborg.
Defenseman Jeremy Beaudry experienced an unexpected scoring outburst last season with a total of 20 goals. In his previous stints in Denmark, the EIHL, Slovakia, and the DEL2, the 32-year-old Franco-Canadian had been significantly less noticeable in terms of points.
Kölner Haie
Game Day 1 in Salzburg, Game Day 4 against KAC
Dominated the regular season, but failed in the semifinals (as in the final a year earlier) against the eventual champion from Berlin: It never quite works out for the Haie, who have, however, consolidated themselves financially and athletically in recent years.
Since the Lanxess-Arena is one of Europe's top venues, it is accordingly well-booked, which means scheduling difficulties for the Haie, especially during playoff times: The KAC's guest appearance must therefore also take place in Krefeld.
Key Players
Under new coach Thomas Berglund (Kari Jalonen returned to Finland), Swedish players have come into vogue: In addition to forward Markus Ljungh (35), 31-year-old defenseman Robin Press also joined. In both Finland and his four KHL years, he confirmed his reputation as a shot-monster and power-play specialist.
Four players over 35, some just under: Like KAC, the Haie also rely on a lot of veteran experience. Nobody brings more of it than defenseman Moritz Müller. The 39-year-old has been on the Cologne roster since the 2003/04 season and is, of course, the club's figurehead. Will he still get the title before the end of his career, which the Haie have been waiting for since 2002 (!)?
Goalie Janne Juvonen was jobless at the start of last season and would probably have signed with less prominent organizations. From his Haie debut, the 31-year-old Finn quickly established himself as one of the league's top goalies.
Bili Tygri Liberec
Game Day 2 in Salzburg, Game Day 4 against Graz99ers
The White Tigers (named after the main attraction of the local zoo) have established themselves in recent years as at least a solid mid-table team in the Czech Extraliga, often even better.
Their financial resources are good, but not within reach of top teams like Pardubice, Sparta Prague, or Trinec. Last year's third-place finish in the regular season was their best placement since 2020.
Key Players
Despite strong performances in the Extraliga and on the national team, Tomas Galvas only found his draft luck on the third try: The Pittsburgh Penguins were in a hurry this time and even gave up a second-round pick for the 20-year-old. The nimble defenseman will remain in Liberec for another season.
Radim Simek only played for Liberec in the Extraliga, separated by seven years in the San Jose organization with nearly 200 NHL games. The now 33-year-old defenseman naturally plays in all situations, but his power-play production has recently declined. Since he is under contract until 2030, he will likely retire as a club legend.
Winger Radan Lenc experienced the best scoring season (24 goals) of his career at 34. Even in the late autumn of his career, his footwork is still a great strength.
Storhamar
Game Day 3 against KAC
Three consecutive championship titles, making them a regular guest in the CHL – Storhamar is the benchmark in Norwegian club ice hockey.
Nevertheless, the turnover this summer was quite significant: Ten players left the organization, including Olle Liss, Colin Campbell, and Stefan Espeland (who retired), all well-known from the EBEL/ICE leagues. Among the nine new signings are also players proven in this country.
Key Players
Despite very good statistics, Tyler Parks had no future in Vienna two years ago – a long absence due to back problems made sports manager Christian Dolezal nervous. In Poprad, the two-meter-tall player performed well in the regular season, but less so in the playoffs. Can the now 34-year-old play a season as the undisputed number one?
Simon Hjalmarsson was welcomed with great fanfare in Graz years ago but then proved to be "only" a solid team player and not a sole entertainer. After only three Liiga goals last season and now at 37, the winger has to prove what he still has left.
Christian Bull has now been through the DEL, ICE (Pioneers), and Slovakia, and is now entering his second season with Storhamar. The career highlight of the 30-year-old defensive defenseman will probably forever remain the hat-trick against Austria at the 2019 World Championship in Bratislava.
Eisbären Berlin
Game Day 3 against Graz99ers
Five championship titles in six years, with one season failing to even reach the playoffs – such is the impressive, yet curious, record of the Eisbären.
However, the DEL benchmark had to cope with the departure of Serge Aubin this summer, who is trying his hand in the Swiss NL for the second time. Successor Eric Dubois (unsurprisingly, the next Franco-Canadian) can only look back on experience as an assistant coach in recent years.
Key Players
Jack LaFontaine is the new No. 1 in the Eisbären net – at 28, he's primarily a career ECHL player with only brief AHL stints. Manager Stephane Richer opted against signing a goaltender with a prominent resume, trusting that LaFontaine's outstanding performances are transferable to DEL level.
Small but effective: Since his debut in Ingolstadt during the 22/23 season, Ty Ronning has been one of the outstanding DEL forwards. The immensely agile winger, who returned well from an injury last season, could have signed in Bolzano years ago as a domestic player but chose the DEL over a potential Olympic participation.
He scores and scores and scores: Liam Kirk – by no means just a Brit by passport, but trained there – has established himself as an absolute goal-scorer in both Litvinov and Berlin. The 26-year-old winger still has several years ahead of him in good European leagues with attractive salaries.
Rögle BK
Game Day 3 against Salzburg
After three final defeats in six years, the title is the declared goal for Dan Tangnes' team this year. After a four-year absence, the team from Southern Sweden is also returning to the CHL, which they won in 21/22.
There will likely be no Austrian involvement: Gregor Biber went across the pond. Johannes Neumann still belongs to the organization, but is an overager in the U20 and has many established players ahead of him in the adult category.
Key Players
Seven import players are on the Rögle roster, including four North Americans in defense. One of them: the now 35-year-old Calvin de Haan, a defensive specialist tested in more than 700 NHL games.
In the younger age segment: Tinus Luc Koblar. The 19-year-old center was already a key player for the Norwegian national team during their bronze sensation in the spring. It should be his last season in Sweden – the Maple Leafs, who drafted him in 2025, have already signed him.
Although Frederik Olofsson is already 30 years old, he is only entering his fourth SHL season. The strong-playing center already played overseas at a young age, but only 85 NHL games followed.
Växjö Lakers
Game Day 4 against Salzburg
Four titles since 2015, the Lakers have developed into an SHL giant over the years.
Recently, it was only enough for semifinal appearances, but another title win should be within reach again. Coach Björn Hellkvist is starting his second season – under him, the Lakers found more offensive production than usual last season.
Key Players
Keegan Lowe played in Bolzano during the 21/22 season, but there he was dismissed as, at best, an average defensive defenseman. In Växjö, he is more appreciated: He is already entering his fifth season there, his fourth as an Assistant Captain. The son of Edmonton legend (more as a player than as a GM) Kevin, even at 33, thrives in his role as a player who gives everything for the team...
Captain Joel Persson is the type of player every team would love to have: a reliable point producer and power-play specialist from the blue line. The 32-year-old further increased his production last season to a career-best 44 points in the regular season.
Slovakian Peter Cehlarik is not looking back on his best season (only five goals in 45 games for relegated Leksands), although not every player copes well with the conditions at the smallest SHL location. The 31-year-old Slovakian winger already has several years in Sweden behind him; things went less well for him in North America and Switzerland. However, he is out until the end of September...
