Two Playoffs stages down and two stages to go before we reach the Champions Hockey League Final. Now that the Round of 16 has been completed, we’ve compiled an update regarding the League Ranking and the places allocated for next season based on the current standings.
But first, a quick recap: The CHL League Ranking is a performance driven tool used to determine the number of places allocated to each national league. The ranking takes into account the past CHL season (for us currently midway into the season it will be the points data after the Group Stage) weighted at 100%, plus the last three CHL seasons, which each have a 25% decrement from the last season.
The top two shareholder leagues receive an allocation of five teams, the third and fourth ranked leagues are permitted to have four teams, and the fifth and sixth ranked leagues have three teams, so there is a big incentive to perform.
The shareholder leagues are the ICE, Czech Extraliga, DEL, Swiss NL, SHL and Finland's top tier, Liiga. During the Group Stage, three points are awarded for a win in regulation time, two points in overtime or game-winning shootout, and one point for a loss in overtime or game-winning shootout.
During the Playoffs, three points are awarded for a win in regulation time and one point each if the game ends a draw.
Additionally, for each round a team progresses to in the Playoffs, one point is awarded.
Here’s a short video explaining the League Ranking:
Sitting 20 points behind fifth-ranked Swiss NL, the Czech Extraliga, with only Sparta Prague still in the running, will stay put in terms of the League Ranking and that means they will maintain their three allocated places for the 2022/23 campaign.
Sparta kept themselves in it by claiming the win on aggregate score, despite losing their second contest to Skellefteå AIK 2-1, their first bid, a 3-1 finish, was the catalyst that boosted the Czechs into the Quarter-Finals as they continue their march to the Final.
In a surprise turn of events, just one point currently separates the NL from second-ranked ICE ahead of the Quarter-Finals. At 211 points so far this season, the NL is tied with Liiga but the Finns are currently ranked fourth in the League Ranking.
Heading into the Round of 16, the Swiss were well-represented with Fribourg-Gottéron hanging onto a perfect record while ZSC Lions Zurich also played brilliantly in their Group Stage games. Fortunes ran dry for these Swiss clubs, however, as both were ousted from the competition.
That means that everything is still possible for the Swiss as it is now out of their hands - they could drop two places, one place or even keep all five, dependent on results in Quarter-Finals.
Liiga teams are in a position to not only maintain their four allocations but maybe even tack on an extra place if Lukko Rauma and Tappara Tampere can continue their runs to the Final.
Coming in third on the League Ranking is the DEL with 212 total points but will need a strong showing from Red Bull Munich if they hope to increase their allocations for 2022/23.
The Germans entered the Round of 16 with two clubs vying for a date in the Final, but Adler Mannheim were in too deep against a Frölunda Gothenburg squad that's all too familiar with Playoff hockey in the CHL. Munich, on the other hand, surprised everyone by taking down Fribourg-Gottéron and will now move on to faceoff against Lukko in the Quarter-Finals.
Tied with the DEL with 212 points is the ICE who currently sit in second on the League Ranking. All three ICE clubs entered the Round of 16 and all three exited in defeat as HC Bolzano, KAC Klagenfurt, and Red Bull Salzburg saw their chance come and go. With their disappointing defeats, the ICE will most likely see their ranking slip when the Quarter-Finals begin.
Finally, high above the rest, with 250 total points in the League Ranking, is the Swedish Hockey League. As we prepare for the next leg of the competition, the Swedes are in a comfortable position to reclaim their five allocations for the 2022/23 season as three of the five clubs from the SHL have moved on to the Quarter-Finals.
Frölunda, Leksands IF, and Rögle Ängelholm all made it past their Round of 16 opponents and are primed for a place in the Final. But first, a little friendly competition against their fellow countrymen as Frölunda will battle Leksand in the next leg of the competition. Meanwhile, CHL debutants Rogle will take on Sparta in their home-and-away series.
While some Leagues are more or less guaranteed to remain in their current ranking, others still have a chance to move up...or down.
Stay tuned and catch the first games of the Quarter-Finals beginning on December 7.