EUROPE
TOP LINKS
Eishockey News
EuroHockey
Eurohockey.net
Euro Ice Hockey Challenge Tournaments
European Ice Hockey Links
European Trophy Tournament
Hokej.rs
International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF
TV Matchen
IMPORTS ALLOWED PER EUROPEAN COUNTRY
AUSTRIA - Point System - Maximum 8 Non European Imports
CZECH REP - 1 Non European Import
DENMARK - Unlimited
FINLAND - 5 Imports per team
FRANCE - Unlimited European Players
3 Non European Players
GERMANY - DEL - 12 Imports and 10 per game
Bundesliga - 5 Imports
Oberliga - 3 Imports and Only German Goalies
HOLLAND - Point System - Maximum 6 Non European Imports
ITALY - Point System - Maximum 8 Non European Imports ( 1.0 Non EU, 0.5 for EU Import )
NORWAY -
POLAND - 3 Imports per team
RUSSIA -
SERBIA -
SLOVAKIA -
SLOVENIA -
SWEDEN - 2 Non European Imports
SWISS A - 8 Imports per team and 4 per game
SWISS B - Unlimited Imports and 2 per game
UK Elite - 10 Imports at a AA Minor Pro Experience or European ELite League
UK Premier - 4 European Imports per team
DEADLINES FOR SIGNINGS
Austria
Czech Rep
Denmark December 15, 2011
Finland January 31, 2012
France November 15, 2011
Germany January 31, 2012
Holland December 1, 2011
Italy
Norway December 31, 2011
Poland
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden January 31, 2012
Switzerland 24 hours before playoffs start
UK January 31, 2012
SPOTS AVAILABLE PER LEAGUE
Leagues in Europe have begun exhibition games and vacancies are very few. Teams will be looking at signing players for the 2012-13 season.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED IF WANTING TO PLAY PRO IN EUROPE
Legend
1 NHL EXPERIENCE
2 TOP LEVEL EURO EXPERIENCE
3 AHL EXPERIENCE
4 EURO EXPERIENCE AT DIV.1 LEVEL
5 ECHL EXPERIENCE
6 CHL EXPERIENCE
7 NCAA DIV 1 OR MAJOR JUNIOR
8 CIS, JR.A, AND NCAA DIV.3
9 SPHL, FHL
10 LOWER EURO LEAGUES
11 JR.B AND ACHA
THE MINIMAL REQUIREMENT IN EACH COUNTRY AND LEAGUE IF YOU DO NOT MEET IT CHANCES YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
ASIA
Asia League 3,4
AUSTRIA
Erste Bank Liga 3
Nationalliga 5
BELGIUM
Dutch Eredivisie 6
CZECH REPUBLIC
Extraliga 2
1.liga 4
DENMARK
AL-Bank Ligaen 5
1.Division 6
FINLAND
SM-liga 2,3
Mestis 5
FRANCE
Ligue Magnus 5
Division 1 6,7
Division 2 8
GERMANY
DEL 2,3
Bundesliga 3
Oberliga 6
HOLLAND
Eredivisie 6
ITALY
Serie A 3
Serie B 5
NORWAY
Get Ligaen 5
1.Division 10
POLAND
Ekstraliga 5,6,7
Division 1 9
RUSSIA
KHL 1,2
SLOVAKIA
Extraliga 3
1.liga 4
SWEDEN
Eliteserein 1,2
Hockey Allsvenskan 5
Division 1 8
SWITZERLAND
NLA 1,2
NLB 3,4
UK
EIHL 5
EPIHL 10
Salaries are based on your previous experience. Do not expect to make a lot of money in Europe with no stats to back you.
You need to be an excellent skater to participate at a level due to the ice surface size.
Most teams prefer scoring to defense as the style of game in Europe is more open to offense.
Goaltenders are the least signed import, unless you have some decent numbers you will not be considered even if you are a good goaltender.
Most teams want single players unless you have the numbers to be a top 5 player on the team they will not have space for spouses, girlfriends or partners.