2014-2015 Champions Hockey League

[Bjornee]

When it comes to teams moving on to CHL playoffs.


Finnish teams: 7 (likely) out of 8.

Swedish teams: 4 (likely) out of 8.

Got to hand it to you finns.

SM-liiga > SHL in this tournament

 

[Yabob]

Who cares, Skellefteå left 7 of their best players at home and played their backup goalie. You do what's best for your team in the long run.

They must have had entered a really big roster into the tournament then, or played with a really short bench. Seeing as you are not allowed to use players that weren't penciled into the roster for the tournament back in August.

 

[SurMartin]

They must have had entered a really big roster into the tournament then, or played with a really short bench. Seeing as you are not allowed to use players that weren't penciled into the roster for the tournament back in August.

10 defencemen and 15 forwards I think.

Skellefteå had already been qualified for playoff. Djurgården had all the reason to play with their best team to stay in the tournament, now they are out.

And we could have gone for the top seed? The domestic league is way more important, SVT should understand that.

 

[Slimmy]

When it comes to teams moving on to CHL playoffs.


Finnish teams: 7 (likely) out of 8.

Swedish teams: 4 (likely) out of 8.

Got to hand it to you finns.

SM-liiga > SHL in this tournament

There are no big upsets in the groups. The swedish teams expected to advance did just that, with the exception of Växjö, who lost both games against Sparta Prague. But the jury is still out on that one. Djurgården not advancing was no chocker. Färjestad is in a poor state in the SHL and HV71, to be fair, was out early in the tourney but has since added players to their roster and is just now looking like a playoff team. I see no reason to panic at all. Top swedish teams look really strong.

 

[JJTT]

Kärpät wins group A so 7/8 Finnish teams in Playoffs. Only Kalpa is was left out but they shouldn't have been in this tournament in a first place.

Only 2500-3000 spectators in Kärpät-Liberec game, tad over 2000 in Tappara's game yesterday. They should really re-think the whole format, teams are just losing money because of these games.

 

[eme]

Kärpät wins group A so 7/8 Finnish teams in Playoffs. Only Kalpa is was left out but they shouldn't have been in this tournament in a first place.

Only 2500-3000 spectators in Kärpät-Liberec game, tad over 2000 in Tappara's game yesterday. They should really re-think the whole format, teams are just losing money because of these games.

I don't think there is any need for panic. People need to get familiar with the product first to get into it. Also, atleast IFK did not have these games included in the season tickets, which means single tickets sold per game is not too bad.

Teams need to do better marketing though. The games i have seen have been entertaining, and the players and most of the teams seem to take these games seriously. Now its time for the organisations to make it seem bigger in the eyes of the non-hardcore fans.

 

[Jablkon]

Kärpät wins group A so 7/8 Finnish teams in Playoffs. Only Kalpa is was left out but they shouldn't have been in this tournament in a first place.

Only 2500-3000 spectators in Kärpät-Liberec game, tad over 2000 in Tappara's game yesterday. They should really re-think the whole format, teams are just losing money because of these games.

What would you change? Yesterday I was in Sparta - Manheim match. There were only 2300 spectators and it was about to get to the play-off. On the other hand I have to say that it was much more entertaining than ordinary extraliga matches in this time. Fast, physical, intensive. I have to also give some credit to german team which came in full strength and played for 100% even if they didn't have to. What a contrast to some other teams, especially some czech ones....

I do not know what is the comparison of level of quality between CHL matches and macthes in other leagues but if people do not find the way to stadiums they can close it again. There have been so many formats of CHL already..... This tourney is ok, it is just up to fans if they want european competition or not.....

 

[Jussi]

What would you change? Yesterday I was in Sparta - Manheim match. There were only 2300 spectators and it was about to get to the play-off. On the other hand I have to say that it was much more entertaining than ordinary extraliga matches in this time. Fast, physical, intensive. I have to also give some credit to german team which came in full strength and played for 100% even if they didn't have to. What a contrast to some other teams, especially some czech ones....

I do not know what is the comparison of level of quality between CHL matches and macthes in other leagues but if people do not find the way to stadiums they can close it again. There have been so many formats of CHL already..... This tourney is ok, it is just up to fans if they want european competition or not.....

The big problem with the schedule is that some leagues already play "too many games" in their regular seasons. Us older fans can remember how much easier it was for fans to attend games when it was 44-50 games per season. I think it comes from the football background where everyone's used to 36-40 game schedules. About 10 years ago the club bosses wanted more money by adding games but the cost has often been declining average attendances and diminished public interest, especially earlier in the season, because games were less important. You'd have hard time finding fans in Finland opposed to reducing the regular season to around 54-56 games instead of the current 60(on a sidenote, I think KHL's plans of going to 66 games or more will bite them back in the ass). Coupled with trying to avoid clashed with UEFA Champions League, trying to add games in the middle of the season is not an easy task for the CHL. IIRC, the original intent was to play only a couple of rounds in preseason with the rest being played during the season but there just weren't enough dates in calendar for everyone.

 

[Slimmy]

Playoff draw is tomorrow, friday, 13:00. Live stream will be found on www.championshockeyleague.net

Teams I'd like Frölunda to avoid are Sparta Prague and Luleå. We can't face Genéve as they were in our group. Don't want to face a Swedish team this early on and Sparta look strong. Give me a finnish team. There's way too many of them in the playoffs.

 

[bordshockeypampen]

Playoff draw is tomorrow, friday, 13:00. Live stream will be found on www.championshockeyleague.net

13:00 is in local Finnish time. That is 10:00 UTC or 12:00 Central European Summer Time.

 

[Slimmy]

13:00 is in local Finnish time. That is 10:00 UTC or 12:00 Central European Summer Time.

Ah. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Vicente]

Attendance of the CHL was absolutely horrible in the group stage with just 2977 fans per game!

And it wont become any better I guess with the top 5 in attendance and 7 of the top 10 in attendance already out of competition.

I am not sure if lack of interest, bad quality or a mixture of both but Germany had all teams finish last or tied last in their groups. Embarassing.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Kalervo Kummola vice president of IIHF said today they are going to Petersburg to negotiate of 6-7 KHL teams joining CHL for next season. He said the KHL teams were close to joining the CHL already for this season but was cancelled to few minor issues. He also said Sweden is particularly interested in having the KHL teams in CHL but the Germans are sceptical because they fear the difference between best and worst teams would be bigger. Jokerit would most likely be among the 6-7 teams joining CHL unless disastrous KHL finish.

 

[eme]

Attendance of the CHL was absolutely horrible in the group stage with just 2977 fans per game!

And it wont become any better I guess with the top 5 in attendance and 7 of the top 10 in attendance already out of competition.

I am not sure if lack of interest, bad quality or a mixture of both but Germany had all teams finish last or tied last in their groups. Embarassing.

Well, Finnish audience usually wakes up when there is actually something to win, so I'd bet the Finnish teams will have better attendance. But teams will also need to market these games properly, not just on social media.

 

[Vicente]

Well, Finnish audience usually wakes up when there is actually something to win, so I'd bet the Finnish teams will have better attendance. But teams will also need to market these games properly, not just on social media.

I guess here in Germany it was vice versa. "Heavy" marketing - for German standards - and claiming how serious they take the games and afterwards the DEL boss told our teams were surprised that the others played for something, not just exhibition.

At least you guys up north get something to cheer for. Hamburg and Krefeld even were beaten by teams from Denmark and UK...

I wonder why they want 6-7 teams from KHL? Wouldn't it be better to have 5 of KHL and reduce the rest of top countries also to 5 teams? I know they have those teams who bought their entry but they are completely overloading this tournament.

 

[FiLe]

Well, Finnish audience usually wakes up when there is actually something to win, so I'd bet the Finnish teams will have better attendance. But teams will also need to market these games properly, not just on social media.

If we are to look at the silver lining, at least it does not appear that most clubs were taking these games any more seriously than their usual regular season games.

What I mean to say is that the Swedes can't excuse themselves by claiming the CHL was taken somewhat more seriously in Finland to explain the embarrassing disrepancy.

 

[Urbanskog]

 

[vorky]

Kalervo Kummola vice president of IIHF said today they are going to Petersburg to negotiate of 6-7 KHL teams joining CHL for next season. He said the KHL teams were close to joining the CHL already for this season but was cancelled to few minor issues. He also said Sweden is particularly interested in having the KHL teams in CHL but the Germans are sceptical because they fear the difference between best and worst teams would be bigger. Jokerit would most likely be among the 6-7 teams joining CHL unless disastrous KHL finish.

Would be funny if both sides agreed with the same conditions which CHL refused to accept before season

 

[Slimmy]

My predictions for 1/8-finals:

Skellefteå - JYP
Linköping - Sparta Prague
Lukko - TPS
Salzburg - Luleå
SaiPa - Genéve
Vienna - Kärpät
Frölunda - Tappara
Fribourg - IFK Helsinki

The Linköping Sparta Prague matchup could go ether way, I feel. I've been impressed by Sparta but Linköping has a good team with a lot of firepower.

I'm unsure of the Vienna - Kärpät matchup, as well. Hard to say if Vienna is the real deal since I haven't seen them play and Färjestad being a disaster this season in the SHL.

Would be a huge upset if Genéve topples SaiPa. Genéve got 3 points of off Frölunda in the opener but much more so because of Frölundas sloppy play (letting in a goal in 5 on 3) and hugely ineffective PP.

 

[Slimmy]

SVT still pissed at Djurgården for resting 7 of their players for the Fribourg game.

@svtlehmann 23 timför 23 timmar sedan
Samuelsson, Eriksson, Arnesson, Tellqvist, Holmqvist...spelar idag...vilken överraskning... #shl #twittpuck

@SlimmySlimslovz @henrikleman de spelar idag. #dunderhonung

 

[Jablkon]

If we are to look at the silver lining, at least it does not appear that most clubs were taking these games any more seriously than their usual regular season games.

What I mean to say is that the Swedes can't excuse themselves by claiming the CHL was taken somewhat more seriously in Finland to explain the embarrassing disrepancy.

I see this comment is more about finnish and swedish rivalry But to oppose you a bit, some teams even have to take even more seriously than regular matches to be succesfull. According to Sparta players, they had to switch to play-off mode sometimes to be able to beat Manheim in last round...

I can clearly say that czech teams can not be succesefull in CHL without top roster, which is even the issue during preseason because you missing chance to test players. From this point of view I doubt that clubs like Zlin or Pardubice could be succesfull in CHL in the future. They would simply have to make some priorities....

Anyway the current result definetely shows some facts. Top quality of finnish league, embarrassment for czech and german league..... These results already opened discussion here in czech and this itself has some value

 

[Slimmy]

Is this guy for real? Genéve in the semis??
hockeysverige.se

// Sorry for spamming swedish articles / tweets

 

[chokei]

Geneva is a team that tends to do well in tournaments like this. McSorley is an ambitious coach who wants to succeed on the big stage. Other teams may think "meh" of the CHL, McSorley certainly doesn't. And it's not like they don't have any good players on their team. Goaltending is weak tough. Don't count them out.

 

[FiLe]

Anyway the current result definetely shows some facts. Top quality of finnish league, embarrassment for czech and german league..... These results already opened discussion here in czech and this itself has some value

I don't mean to slight anybody, but the consensus here in Finland has been that the Czech league has been quite a while that the Czech league is not all that hot stuff. However, it's definitely a good thing that the CHL has got the Czechs themselves to ponder too what they could do to improve. Sometimes you need a wake-up call like this for good things to happen.

On the other hand, if we disregard the KHL, us Finns are not exactly considering our own league the best (or second best) in Europe either. Not by a mile, at least. Even the most optimistic ones put us on the same level with Elitserien and maybe NLA. It was... bit of a surprise to be honest, to see 7 out of 8 Liiga teams make it to the playoff stage.

Well, perhaps you really need a foreign perspective to really appreciate what you have. Apart from this CHL success, one should also bear in mind that the Finnish league has been one of KHL's main recruiting grounds for quite a while now. We've actually assumed it's a cultural thing - leagues and players from further west are not so ripe to its lure. But this certainly makes one consider if there's more to it than that.

Ever the statistician, I have to say though that it's still just the first season of a new competition, so to draw too long-lasting conclusions of the vigors of various leagues is certainly a fool's errand.

Is this guy for real? Genéve in the semis??
hockeysverige.se

// Sorry for spamming swedish articles / tweets

That's Swedish sports journalism for ya. You see these kind of predictions pop up alongside every competition imaginable. Sometimes they go that way... sometimes they don't.

The fact that they are so common also means that no one really minds if they turn out to be wrong. All part of the hubbub.

Another tradition: When they do go wrong, you can guarantee at least one of two words to pop up in tomorrow's headlines: "SKÄM" or "FIASKO".

 

[Slimmy]

I don't mean to slight anybody, but the consensus here in Finland has been that the Czech league has been quite a while that the Czech league is not all that hot stuff. However, it's definitely a good thing that the CHL has got the Czechs themselves to ponder too what they could do to improve. Sometimes you need a wake-up call like this for good things to happen.

On the other hand, if we disregard the KHL, us Finns are not exactly considering our own league the best (or second best) in Europe either. Not by a mile, at least. Even the most optimistic ones put us on the same level with Elitserien and maybe NLA. It was... bit of a surprise to be honest, to see 7 out of 8 Liiga teams make it to the playoff stage.

Well, perhaps you really need a foreign perspective to really appreciate what you have. Apart from this CHL success, one should also bear in mind that the Finnish league has been one of KHL's main recruiting grounds for quite a while now. We've actually assumed it's a cultural thing - leagues and players from further west are not so ripe to its lure. But this certainly makes one consider if there's more to it than that.

Ever the statistician, I have to say though that it's still just the first season of a new competition, so to draw too long-lasting conclusions of the vigors of various leagues is certainly a fool's errand.

That's Swedish sports journalism for ya. You see these kind of predictions pop up alongside every competition imaginable. Sometimes they go that way... sometimes they don't.

The fact that they are so common also means that no one really minds if they turn out to be wrong. All part of the hubbub.

Another tradition: When they do go wrong, you can guarantee at least one of two words to pop up in tomorrow's headlines: "SKÄM" or "FIASKO".

To be fair, I really can not tell if it was an attempt at humour or not. I'm not a regular at hockeysverige so I wouldn't know. Swedish spourts journalism is certainly not at this level in general. Swedes tend to undervalue our league, just as finns do.