2016-17 Champions Hockey League

[Eidyia]

i agree on paper with you, yet we have to see that Ambri can beat a ZCS or SCB any evening !
I see the NLA as much more competitive than it use to be. Theferfore stating that Top NLA can compete and bottom can't would be exagerated.

i believe that top and bottom NLA teams are closer ... remains to determin, tks to CHL and other opportunities what are the best leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Swiss well higher than what most people think. (not necessarily higher than SEL ... but maybe not too far and on paar with FEL ... all this is pure speculation anyway !)

Before the CHL I thought that the Swiss league was actually equal or even better than the Finnish league as the foreigners in your league are much better than in Finland.

But after our sub-par teams like KalPa, SaiPa, etc (no offence) from small towns regularly beat your top teams with their "NHL-level" North American reinforcements it'd became clear it's more than just money.

The quality of top level young players who are promoted from the juniors every year seem to be a lot more important than the quality of North American imports.

 

[scipio]

Before the CHL I thought that the Swiss league was actually equal or even better than the Finnish league as the foreigners in your league are much better than in Finland.

But after our sub-par teams like KalPa, SaiPa, etc (no offence) from small towns regularly beat your top teams with their "NHL-level" North American reinforcements it'd became clear it's more than just money.

The quality of top level young players who are promoted from the juniors every year seem to be a lot more important than the quality of North American imports.

Which top teams are you talking about? Can't remember ZSC or Davos playing against any of those teams...

 

[Eidyia]

Before the CHL I thought that the Swiss league was actually equal or even better than the Finnish league as the foreigners in your league are much better than in Finland.

But after our sub-par teams like KalPa, SaiPa, etc (no offence) from small towns regularly beat your top teams with their "NHL-level" North American reinforcements it'd became clear it's more than just money.

The quality of top level young players who are promoted from the juniors every year seem to be a lot more important than the quality of North American imports.

Which top teams are you talking about? Can't remember ZSC or Davos playing against any of those teams...

Sorry, I remembered wrong. Davos especially did very good last season.

 

[SoupyFIN]

It certainly wouldn't hurt.

Linköping is trying a different solution for their home game against Jyp. Everyone who show up before 6:30 pm. wearing a team jersey (Linköping's I guess) and/or a Linköping scarf will get in for free. Will be interesting to see if it works.

Jyp did sort of the same thing last year, they let students in for free that showed up in their school overalls (traditional rare occasion outfit among post secondary academic education), it was a decent crowd for a CHL game, but nowhere near full.

 

[torero]

Before the CHL I thought that the Swiss league was actually equal or even better than the Finnish league as the foreigners in your league are much better than in Finland.

But after our sub-par teams like KalPa, SaiPa, etc (no offence) from small towns regularly beat your top teams with their "NHL-level" North American reinforcements it'd became clear it's more than just money.

The quality of top level young players who are promoted from the juniors every year seem to be a lot more important than the quality of North American imports.

That is definitely a big difference : Pond hockey ! we don't have it ... except in the mountains. Which represents a small minority ... but now hockey is spreading in the cities ... many new clubs have been created ... and covered rinks are bing built a bit everywhere. ... So we start having more young talent production ... specially coming from the cities. (still some room until we reach Finland.)

On the imports, we don't have that many ... and they are not NHL caliber ... NHLers play in the NHL. We would rather have good AHLers ... (who don't want to aim at KHL). ... and no more than 4 per team on the ice.

All this said, this year seems to be another year and probably Swiss teams will be doing better. (They started training at least 2 weeks before CHL starts and they iced all their players, which means that they take it seriously this year)

 

[Eidyia]

That is definitely a big difference : Pond hockey ! we don't have it ... except in the mountains. Which represents a small minority ... but now hockey is spreading in the cities ... many new clubs have been created ... and covered rinks are bing built a bit everywhere. ... So we start having more young talent production ... specially coming from the cities. (still some room until we reach Finland.)

That's great to hear honestly.

 

[Lataba76]

That is definitely a big difference : Pond hockey ! we don't have it ... except in the mountains. Which represents a small minority ... but now hockey is spreading in the cities ... many new clubs have been created ... and covered rinks are bing built a bit everywhere. ... So we start having more young talent production ... specially coming from the cities. (still some room until we reach Finland.)

On the imports, we don't have that many ... and they are not NHL caliber ... NHLers play in the NHL. We would rather have good AHLers ... (who don't want to aim at KHL). ... and no more than 4 per team on the ice.

All this said, this year seems to be another year and probably Swiss teams will be doing better. (They started training at least 2 weeks before CHL starts and they iced all their players, which means that they take it seriously this year)

I think the swiss hockey hasn t advanced their hockey in last years. When i see how many talents Finland and Sweden has produced in recent time than you can see that Switzerland hasn t so much potenial.

SHL and LIIGA has a so big fluctuation. So much Players in NHL,AHL,NCAA und KHL grabs the Playes from this leagues.

 

[joshyhockey26]

Cracovia battled to a 5-4 loss??? Can't wait to see the highlights of that. Against Sparta too, that's twice now they've given them a tough game

 

[themelkman]

That's great to hear honestly.

There are some good up and coming swiss forwards like Meier and Hischier

 

[Slimmy]

Cracovia battled to a 5-4 loss??? Can't wait to see the highlights of that. Against Sparta too, that's twice now they've given them a tough game

Damn! I was impressed by their play against Sparta at home but they couldn't keep it up for three periods. Sparta is a really good team, though. This feels like they might have iced a B-team, perhaps?

 

[Jablkon]

Damn! I was impressed by their play against Sparta at home but they couldn't keep it up for three periods. Sparta is a really good team, though. This feels like they might have iced a B-team, perhaps?

It was an A team. Shots were like 65 to 14 but all the players gave Cracovia credit so it must have been tough.

 

[Ciccarelli]

Does anyone know about the average attendance numbers? Seen some bad numbers (Turku why u no care about hockey?) but overall it seems that the numbers have been better than last season (3k average).

Was at the Lukko-Zurich game and got to say it was some pretty entertaining hockey. First period was all Zurich, second was Lukko's, third one was even. PS is always just a coin flip to decide who gets the extra point. So I guess both sides were wrong here yesterday, me saying Lukko is the favorite and the swiss fans saying Zurich is. If these teams played a best of seven series id honestly give it 1/1odds. Also kudos to the swiss fans. It was pretty absurd but awesome at the sometime the dedication to fly over to Rauma to see your team play. I mean its one thing to fly over Berlin or Stockholm or Prague on a weekend when you can see the game and enjoy your weekend in a great city, but Rauma? Well I hope you didnt stay there after the game or else you were pretty disappointed at the nightlife there

 

[Eye of Ra]

such a boring tournament. i have tried to watch some games but i started to sleep.

 

[Falling Snow]

Djurgarden - Davos = Penalty Fight Festival

such a boring tournament. i have tried to watch some games but i started to sleep.

comon hockey has started time to wake up

 

[lakers11]

So much for SAIK sucking

Djurgården-Davos 6-0 damn

 

[Ciccarelli]

For me Djurgarden - Davos is 60 % - 40 % for swedish team, but Zurich is favorite against Rauma no question.

Now I must admit im being bit of an arse here doing this after the games (well Dif-Davos isnt ei shed yet but..) how exactly did you come to these conclusions? I mean that Zurich -Rauma comparison for example. Im sure you are familiar with Zurich roster but did you go to eliteprospects and click each and every player profile open for Rauma? Comparing rosters is a weak way to compare teams but even if you did that i dont think you found that Rauma roster all that weak. Rauma has three finnish EHT level guys in their defence (Niskala, Ahonen, Virtanen) plus Seigo (19pts in the KHL last season). For forwards Im sure Vahalahti, Gagnon, Koivisto, Saarela and Tukonen would all score 40+ points in the NLA. So just curious how you came to the conclusion.

About Drurgården-Davos something like 75-25 would seem more accurate let alone Davos being the favorite

 

[Ciccarelli]

So much for SAIK sucking

KalPa has no business in this tournament, I honestly think some of the austrian teams might even be stronger. Leaving Jukurit (promoted for the upcoming season) behind in Liiga would be a success for them. Good thing there are no quarenteed spots for the original teams anymore for the next CHL season.

 

[torero]

Now I must admit im being bit of an arse here doing this after the games (well Dif-Davos isnt ei shed yet but..) how exactly did you come to these conclusions? I mean that Zurich -Rauma comparison for example. Im sure you are familiar with Zurich roster but did you go to eliteprospects and click each and every player profile open for Rauma? Comparing rosters is a weak way to compare teams but even if you did that i dont think you found that Rauma roster all that weak. Rauma has three finnish EHT level guys in their defence (Niskala, Ahonen, Virtanen) plus Seigo (19pts in the KHL last season). For forwards Im sure Vahalahti, Gagnon, Koivisto, Saarela and Tukonen would all score 40+ points in the NLA. So just curious how you came to the conclusion.

About Drurgården-Davos something like 75-25 would seem more accurate let alone Davos being the favorite

after a 6-0 ... it is an obvious thought. Yet Davos has more under the foot than that !! we can quietly say that they were not on their best day without too much risk !

As per Rauma, Yesterda ... they were definitely good. i watched the game and their is no question on the quality of the team. In spite of that, Zurich was dominant and Rauma was more lucky to have scored the 2 goals in the last minutes and so obtaining the OT.

And about the probabilities of this team vs this one ... what did the betting guys who so generously allow us to see the games online give as quotes ?

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Some pretty passing by Frölunda right now

 

[Jussi]

KalPa has no business in this tournament, I honestly think some of the austrian teams might even be stronger. Leaving Jukurit (promoted for the upcoming season) behind in Liiga would be a success for them. Good thing there are no quarenteed spots for the original teams anymore for the next CHL season.

I think that if it wasn't for Kapanen and Timonen being owners in the team, they wouldn't be taking part in this tournament. They've been poor in Liiga and probably won't be in this tournament when they reduce the teams.

 

[lakers11]

Djurgården, HV71 and Färjestad shouldnt be in this tournament either but it is what it is. My point is SAIK played pretty good

Ive watched several CHL matches where SHL teams played and the SHL has only 2 bad teams in it, HV71 and Växjö Lakers. Might be a good year for SHL again

 

[Jeppe950]

Djurgården, HV71 and Färjestad shouldnt be in this tournament either but it is what it is. My point is SAIK played pretty good

Ive watched several CHL matches where SHL teams played and the SHL has only 2 bad teams in it, HV71 and Växjö Lakers. Might be a good year for SHL again

While I agree that Växjö has played like a joke in the group stage I would hardly say that it means we're gonna be awful in the playoffs. Though if last season is an indicator I can't say I expect anything either. I also think that playing another good team from Finland or Switzerland would be a totally different game than we have seen thus far.

 

[Lataba76]

The most swiss players will stay in NLA because of money, when they dont get a contract anymore then they will try their luck elsewhere.
For me Djurgarden - Davos is 60 % - 40 % for swedish team, but Zurich is favorite against Rauma no question.
low level swiss players ? the example with timo helbling shows me that you dont have the know how about swiss players. there alot of swiss players who could easy play in FEL or SEL.
Hiller, Brunner, Diaz, Rod, Suri, Martschini, Hollenstein ,Bieber, Fora, Blindenbacher , Geering, Wick, Herzog, Genoni , Plüss , Blum , Dubois, Bodenmann, Vauclair, Hoffmann, Sprunger, Ambühl etc. there would be much more.
And then there also diffrence in style of play : FEL =conservative defence hockey , NLA =Coast to Coast Run and gun hockey.

in my opinion SEL and FEL is ahead of NLA especially in depth, but swiss top teams can compete.

Yes but the FEL and SEL lost so much Players/Talents to North America and KHL. Despite this Leagues are competitive!

 

[pulverapa]

Can't say I'm surprised by DIF winning against Davos.

Jeppe950, what the hell are you talking about?

 

[Jeppe950]

Can't say I'm surprised by DIF winning against Davos.

Jeppe950, what the hell are you talking about?

The fact that my team(Växjö) have been awful in the CHL groupstage and I believe better opposition means we might play better games hopefully.