On 22 May, in the middle of the recent world championships in Slovakia, the draw for the Europe-wide club competition that starts on 29 August took place in Bratislava.
Last year was the first time in Champions Hockey League history a German team went to the final with Red Bull Munich playing away to eventual winners, Frölunda Indians from Sweden last February.
A year ago I tipped the Indians to win and Munich were my outsiders choice for the title. But this year I'm going back to the old favourites and expecting to see a repeat of the 2015/6 all-Nordic final with Frölunda against Finnish, Kärpät Oulu.
Below we take a look at my favourites for the competition as well as a brief look at the group draw.
Frölunda Indians (SWE)
Roger Rönnberg's team from Gothenburg are my favourites to lift the trophy, this time for their fourth championship and achieving what only they have done before - win back to back championships.
One reason for this is that the management remains the same and the Swedish champions take the competition seriously- not as a warm up for their national season - but as something worth winning in it's own right.
That said, the club has already lost some of it's stars from the 2018/9 double winning season. Canadian backs, Jonathan Sigalet and Chay Genoway are both moving on. The first to Swedish rivals, Brynäs IF and the second moves back to the KHL where he has played most of his career since leaving North America in 2014. On attack, they also lose the Westerholm twins to Finland's Lukko Rauma. All four are forfeiting their chance to play in the CHL by moving.
But it is not time to write off the Gothenburg club - they will still retain the top scoring CHL and SHL forward, American, Ryan Lasch and Henrik's twin brother Joel Lundqvist will stay remain as captain at the club. Both have one year on their contract and whilst the 32 year old import player has not been afraid to move around, 37 year old Lundqvist maybe playing his last season at the club he has been at for 10 years.
Frölunda is a club that produces great young players such Rasmus Dahlin who has just had his first season at Buffalo Sabres. Their current pairing of back Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles Kings -pictured) and forward Samuel Fagemo (to be drafted this summer) will probably stay another season at the club despite NHL interest and will undoubtedly play a crucial role in a successful season.
But the Indians are also able to attract great players. They have already got replacements at the back with 23 year Swede, Julius Bergman, coming in fresh from four years in the AHL to replace Genoway as a point scoring back. Genoway's Olympic Bronze medal winning teammate, Karl Stollery will be coming from the KHL to replace Sigalet. And an interesting signing in regard to the CHL is that 29 year old Swede Niklas Lasu (pictured). The 2008 Atlanta Thrashers drafted centre returns to his home club after two years in Finland with no less than Kärpät Oulu.
The transfer window is still open but I have no doubt the Frölunda are going to be a force to reckon with in both CHL and SHL with their fantastic mix of up and coming Swedes, skillful returnees and super talented import players.
