Liiga vs Allsvenskan

How would you compare/contrast Liiga and Allsvenskan?

Liiga sits a bit higher head to head, but Allsvenskan is considered by many to be one of the strongest 2nd-tiers in all of Europe.

We've scouted both of these leagues for years and understand the levels well.

Liiga

Liiga is the top ice hockey league in Finland.

Allsvenskan

Founded in 2005, Allsvenskan is the second-highest professional ice hockey league in all of Sweden.

Location: Finland

Location: Sweden

Skill Level in Liiga

Liiga is the highest professional hockey league in Finland. Founded in 1975, the league has 15 clubs that span from the South near Helsinki all the way up to the Arctic Circle. It's considered by many to be one of the stronger leagues in Europe.

Skill Level in Allsvenskan

Allsvenskan is the second-tier professional league in Sweden. Founded in 2005, it sits just one level below the SHL and is a strong hockey league in it's own right.

Player Perspective: Liiga

"Liiga is the perfect league to play in, especially as an import from North America who enjoys the physical play paired with skill. I'd agree that Liiga's caliber is up there with a number of the top leagues in Europe based on my experience also playing in Germany and Austria. The fans hear love their hockey.

Player Perspective: Allsvenskan

"Playing in Allsvenskan for those 2 seasons was crucial for my skill development, preparing me for the SHL."

Number of Teams in Liiga: 15

Number of Teams in Allsvenskan: 14

Caliber of Players and Imports in Liiga

Skill level of Liiga players is extremely high, with only the best Finnish players moving up to the highest league. For imports, teams expect players in Europe with strong resumes and players from North America with high-end ECHL/AHL experience on their resumes. Some even have NHL games played. This shows the strength of the league.

Caliber of Players and Imports in Allsvenskan

It's the second league here in Sweden, but don't let that fool you. The level of play in Allsvenskan is comparable to many other top leagues in Europe. Rosters are composed of talented Swedish born players with a handful of talented imports bolstering each roster.