With 44 clubs from 11 countries participating, new stars are sure to emerge in front of a wider audience when Champions Hockey League starts. There are, however, certain players who are already renowned for their exceptional skills. With some of them it’s their leadership that matters while others are known for scoring a lot or stopping pucks well.

by Vilja Päätalo

Petr Čajánek, PSG Zlín

Čajánek has had a successful career. He played for many seasons in the NHL and the experienced forward has also represented his native Czech Republic in many international tournaments, including three Olympic Games. He returned back to his youth team Zlín in 2011 and has since served as the team’s captain. Čajánek still performs at an excellent level in the Extraliga at the age of 38 – last season he had 32 points in 49 games.

Matt D'Agostini, Genève-Servette

A 27-year-old Canadian, D’Agostini is starting his first full season in Europe. He did play for a while in Germany during the latest NHL lockout but he has spent the majority of his career playing in North American hockey leagues – including 328 games in the NHL. Fellow CHL teams will need to watch him and his dangerous shot very closely.

Juha-Pekka Haataja, Kärpät Oulu

Haataja is returning home. The Oulu native had been among the top scorers in the Finnish league earlier on but he had an exceptional season in 2012-13. 59 points in 60 games earned him a spot in Team Finland's roster at the World Championships in 2013 and a KHL deal. However, after a year in Russia he is once again joining Kärpät - the current Finnish champion. Haataja has the potential to be a top CHL goal scorer.

Chuck Kobasew, SC Bern

Much like fellow Canadian D’Agostini, Kobasew is coming to play in Europe for the first time. He was drafted 14th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has played in the NHL since the 2002-03 season. He started last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins but struggled there and ended up playing in the AHL. Kobasew’s experience will make him a dangerous player but the transition to the bigger European ice might take some time.

Mathias Seger, ZSC Lions Zurich

Seger is somewhat of an icon in Swiss hockey. He is known for being an extremely loyal player as he has played for ZSC since 1999-00 and also represented Switzerland in the World Championships almost every year. The defenceman is the captain and leader of his team and still loves to use his shot, especially on the power play.

Radek Smoleňák, TPS Turku

The Czech Smoleňák has spent his most recent years playing in both the Finnish League, where he is an excellent scorer, and in the KHL, where his overall skill level is not quite on the level where it should be. The forward is now back in Finland and his new address is in Turku. He is a dangerous goal-scoring machine but is also, however, a moody player - but on a good day he is a threat to any opposing CHL team’s defence.

Mikael Tellqvist, Djurgården Stockholm

Djurgården is back in the SHL and they’ve acquired an experienced goaltender. Tellqvist played in the NHL for many seasons before returning to Europe and KHL team Dinamo Riga, but now the 34-year-old goalie is back in his home county. He faces the CHL challenge with some pressure as his new team is the most successful Swedish hockey team of all time.

Petri Vehanen, Eisbären Berlin

The Finnish netminder became somewhat of a national hero after helping his home country secure its second World Championship title in 2011. After spending four of the last five seasons in the KHL and one with his hometown club, Lukko Rauma, the 36-year-old made a surprising move when he decided to join the German club. The experienced Vehanen is a great addition to one of Germany's top-profile hockey teams.