Champions Hockey League 2026-27 Preview & Predictions
The 2026-27 Champions Hockey League (CHL) launches on September 3, headlined by defending champions Frölunda. The field is the strongest in years, with elite teams from Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and more, all aiming for the title. Frölunda starts with high expectations but faces formidable contenders like Skellefteå, Tappara, and Fribourg-Gottéron. Rising clubs like KooKoo and SaiPa could shake up the competition. With no time for slow starts and a tough knockout format, the CHL promises intense action and unpredictability this season.
- Frölunda are defending CHL champions, leading a tough 24-team field.
- Major contenders: Skellefteå, Tappara, Fribourg-Gottéron and more.
- Early games are crucial; every match counts in a loaded season.
Champions Hockey League 2026-27
Champions Hockey League 2026-27 Season Preview: Frölunda Lead a Loaded Field
Frölunda begin the 2026-27 Champions Hockey League as European champions. They beat Luleå in the 2026 final and now lead a 24-team field packed with domestic champions, regular-season powers and clubs that will treat every European home night as their biggest game of the year.
- Champions Hockey League 2026-27 Season Preview: Frölunda Lead a Loaded Field
- The Defending Champions
- The Genuine Contenders
- The Teams Ready to Rise
- The Regression Candidates
- What Will Define the CHL Season?
The CHL starts on September 3. The opening games are HC Pilsen versus Rögle and Tappara versus Bílí Tygři Liberec. There is no time for a slow start in this format.
| CHL Winners | Odds |
|---|---|
| Frölunda HC | $6.50 |
| Skellefteå AIK | $6.50 |
| Rögle BK | $8.50 |
| Växjö Lakers HC | $11.00 |
| Tappara | $11.00 |
| Davos | $11.00 |
| Fribourg Gotteron | $12.00 |
| Dynamo Pardubice | $15.00 |
| KooKoo | $17.00 |
| Servette GE | $17.00 |
| SaiPa | $19.00 |
| Rest of the field | $21+ |
The Defending Champions
Frölunda have the latest European title and therefore the most obvious contender case. They also qualified automatically as CHL champions, which gave Sweden an extra place in the 2026-27 competition.
The champions know the tournament's demands. The league phase gives each club six games against six different opponents, then the knockout rounds start deciding seasons quickly. Frölunda have already shown they can handle that shift from domestic hockey to European elimination games.
A repeat will still be hard. The field is deep, the schedule is unforgiving and every contender has a clear reason to believe it can make a run.
The Genuine Contenders
Sweden bring the strongest group on paper: Frölunda as CHL champions, Skellefteå as national champions, plus Växjö and Rögle. Skellefteå's SHL title makes them the obvious threat to Frölunda's European crown, while Rögle and Växjö have earned their places through regular-season quality.
Finland bring Tappara, KooKoo and SaiPa. Tappara are Liiga champions, KooKoo were regular-season runners-up and SaiPa finished third. That is a serious three-team group rather than one national representative carrying the load.
Switzerland also arrive with depth. Fribourg-Gottéron are national champions, HC Davos won the regular season and Genève-Servette complete the group. A Swiss club will be difficult to draw once the tournament reaches the elimination stage.
Germany and Czechia provide more title-level quality through Eisbären Berlin, Kölner Haie, Adler Mannheim, Dynamo Pardubice, HC Pilsen and Bílí Tygři Liberec. The CHL is not a tournament where a major club can expect an easy path because of its domestic reputation.
The Teams Ready to Rise
KooKoo and SaiPa deserve attention. KooKoo pushed Tappara all the way in the Liiga final, while SaiPa qualified as Finland's third-placed regular-season team. Both have earned a European stage and both have enough domestic momentum to make the league phase uncomfortable for the bigger names.
The challenger-league teams are the other wildcard. Graz99ers, KAC Klagenfurt, Red Bull Salzburg, Herning Blue Fox, Bordeaux Boxers, Storhamar, GKS Tychy and HK Nitra arrive without the same market weight as the major-league clubs. That does not make their home games easy points.
The Regression Candidates
Luleå are the clearest warning to every contender. They reached the 2026 CHL final but did not qualify for the 2026-27 edition. A deep European run does not guarantee a return.
That is why Frölunda cannot treat the title defence as a formality. Domestic form gets teams into the competition. European form decides who survives it.
What Will Define the CHL Season?
The CHL is open because the field is deep, not because Frölunda are weak. The champions are the first team to beat. Skellefteå, Tappara, Fribourg-Gottéron, Davos and the wider Swedish contingent give them no room for error.
The first six games decide the road. The knockout rounds decide the champion.
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