SHL vs Oberliga

How would you compare/contrast SHL and Oberliga?

Head to head, SHL definitely takes the strong nod here. SHL is the top level in all of Sweden. Oberliga is a quality league, but sits as the third level in Germany. They differ as well in style of play and the overall depth on rosters.

We've had team members and scouts attend games in each of these two leagues for years. This combined with players in these leagues provides us with our insights on them.

SHL

The SHL (Swedish Hockey League) is the top ice hockey league in all of Sweden.

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: Sweden

Location: Germany

Skill Level in SHL

The Swedish Hockey League is one of the premier ice hockey leagues in the world following the NHL and maybe KHL, AHL.

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: SHL

"The SHL is the real deal. After my playing career in the AHL which included a couple dozen games up in the National (NHL), I decided to move over to Europe to finish out my playing career. My wife and I wanted to experience a new place while I kept playing so the timing was perfect. The skill and speed of the game in Sweden was up there with any league and I greatly enjoyed my two seasons there."

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 SHL: 14

Number of Teams in Oberliga: 28

Caliber of Players and Imports in SHL

The skill level of players in the SHL is extremely high. Only the top-tier players from junior programs and lower divisions make it to the top league in Sweden. In terms of imports, you'll need to either be a top NCAA D1 player or spend significant time in the pros playing well in the ECHL up to the AHL/NHL level to cut it in the Swedish Hockey League. If you're based in Europe, you better be ripping up numbers to attract team attention here. We've heard of a number of NHL veterans who came over at the tail ends of their careers and struggled to keep up with the fast pace. There's a reason it's considered one of the best leagues in all of Europe.

Caliber of Players and Imports in Oberliga

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.