The Växjö Lakers are entering their eighth Champions Hockey League season after managing to place second in the standings in the SHL. Last year in the CHL, the Swedes orchestrated an 8-1-1 record and narrowly missed a chance to advance to the Semi-Finals after falling to eventual Champions Genève-Servette by a combined aggregate score of 6-4.

Eisbären Berlin are back after a one-year hiatus as the DEL champions will be looking to take their team further than the Round of 16, something which has never been done since the club's first-ever qualification in the CHL's first-ever iteration.

Fresh off their 25th DEL title, Berlin are a strong contender to bring the European Trophy to Germany. Several players, including forwards Marcel Noebels, Zach Boychuk, and Frederik Tiffels will be returning as well as American netminder Jake Hildebrand, whose performance in the postseason - a .936 SV% and 1.91 GAA - was instrumental in bringing the title to the German capital.

Looking ahead, Berlin is focused on the task at hand in lieu of lofty goals as they hope to secure a spot in the Playoffs. "For now, that's our main goal - making it to the Top 16," noted team representative Stephane Richer.

Växjö, on the other hand, have had success playing into the latter stages of the tournament.

Their Quarter-Finals appearance last season was the team's third time making it past the Round of 16, and this year the SHL Semi-Finalists will again be with the likes of their top scorer from the 2023/24 CHL campaign in Dylan McLaughlin. The 29-year-old American lit up the scoresheet for the Swedes, posting five tucks and five assists for ten points in nine games.

On the backend, their captain Joel Persson, who'll be appearing in his seventh season in a Växjö sweater, is set to rehash some of his best hockey when he put up eight points (2G, 6A) in eight contests during last year's run. Having contributions from up and down the line-up will only benefit a Swedish team looking for better results this time around.