Jakob Silfverberg honoured on the video board during the TV timeout (Via: Derek Lee) The NHL entering it's offseason means we look to other leagues around the world for great betting values ahead of their league start. We look to explore the German hockey league, Deutsche Eishockey Liga or better known as the DEL. We spoke with The Hockey News' International hockey insider, Derek O'Brien [https://thehockeynews.com/international/author/derek-obrien] on the DEL and what he expects for the upcoming season. The German league has elite level talent and has seen NHLers pass through like Dany Heatly, Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle. The next season should be an interesting one as two teams are eyeing a championship and are even in betting odds to win it. EHC Munchen and Eisbaren Berlin are both listed at +250 to win the DEL and O'Brien noted both teams will be close but Berlin has a slight edge. "Over the last several years I'd say Munich has been the better team, but last year was an off-year by their standards and we'll see if they rebound this year," he said. "Berlin finished 2nd overall and won the championship and I'd call them the better team right now." Last season, Berlin finished second in the regular season with a 29-6-3-14 record before winning their third championship in the last four years. They were lead by German forwards Marcel Noebels and Leo Pföderl, who both finished top-12 in points with 47 and 45 points respectively. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZc_aIoX0fU[/embed] Berlin has become one of the most recognizable German hockey teams and has played NHL teams on occasion like the Chicago Blackhawks and most recently NHL's San Jose Sharks in 2022 when they barely lost 3-1 in an exhibition game as a part of the NHL's Global Series. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHi6xQuhykA[/embed] EHC Munchen did indeed have a down season after finishing fifth with a 26-2-4-20 record that didn't help them gain any momentum and they lost in the Semi-finals. They should rebound this season after they had won the DEL the year prior in 2023 as well as losing in the Finals the season before that in 2022. They have become a powerhouse in the league over the past nine years with four championship wins that could've been five if the COVID-19 pandemic didn't derail the 2019-20 season where they finished first place in the regular season. Both teams have been in the mix for a decade now and will have tough challenges next season. Berlin will look to be the first team to win four championships in five years since they did it themselves twice when they won seven championships from 2005 until 2013. It always feels safe to take the team that has been continually in the mix for over two decades. Check out more of Derek O'Brien's work at The Hockey News' International Site [https://thehockeynews.com/international/]
