AHL vs Oberliga

ahl logo
oberliga ice hockey logo

How would you compare/contrast AHL and Oberliga?

The AHL sits at a higher bar than Oberliga. The pace of the game and skill level throughout the A is higher when we're comparing the two.
AHL vs Oberliga comparison
We regularly scout games each season in both of these leagues. Our understanding comes from this first hand understanding.
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Leagues At A Glance

ahl logo
oberliga ice hockey logo

AHL

The AHL is a professional ice hockey league. It is North America's 2nd highest level of pro hockey sitting directly below the NHL.

Oberliga

Oberliga is the third highest tier of ice hockey in all of Germany, with clubs carrying a mix of talented locals and veteran imports.

Location: North America

Location: Germany

Skill Level in American Hockey League

The AHL (American Hockey League) is a professional hockey league based in North America. It's the 2nd highest level of pro ice hockey in North America, sitting only below the NHL. The level of play here is quite high with it just being a small step away from the best league in the world. Not only is it a highly skilled league and natural proving ground for aspiring NHL players, but it's one of the toughest and most physical leagues to play in across the board.

Skill Level in Oberliga

Oberliga is Germany’s third highest tier hockey league with a couple dozen teams spread across the country. Most clubs roster a bulk of talented local players and a small subset of experienced imports.

Player Perspective: American Hockey League

"The Jungle (AHL) is what a lot of us players call a meat grinder. During the season, the travel schedule is demanding too. Every team has guys that can play in the NHL and guys that can fight. Many have both. To me, it's a great way to gain experience and prepare for the NHL when you hopefully get that call."

Player Perspective: Oberliga

"Oberliga is a great league to play in and the level of hockey is good.Playing in front of a few thousand fans each night is exactly what you want as an import who's playing overseas."

Number of Teams in American Hockey League: 32

Number of Teams in Oberliga: 28

Caliber of Players and Imports in AHL

The skill level of AHL players is extremely high and it's the primary development league for the NHL. Each AHL roster is filled with talented up and coming players (most drafted, some undrafted) who aim to make their way up to the main NHL club one way. Many seasoned veterans have already put in the time in the AHL and some have spent quality time in the NHL but didn't stick for one reason or another (they're still exceptional players). You'll also find some top tier European players mixed in as well who are on various NHL contracts.

Caliber of Players and Imports in Oberliga

oberliga caliber of hockey
The majority of players in Oberliga are German players, but the majority of teams all carry a number of veteran imports that possess solid resumes. The level of play in Oberliga continues to strengthen based on the level of imports paired with the growth of hockey increasing local talent in Germany.
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