DEL Regular Season Standings and League Structure

DEL Regular Season Standings and League Structure

The regular season serves as the critical foundation for the professional ice hockey landscape in Germany. Teams compete in a rigorous schedule to determine their ranking, which dictates whether they advance to the championship playoffs, enter the pre-playoff qualifying rounds, or face the risk of relegation to a lower division.

Key Facts

  • Playoff Qualification: The top six teams in the standings secure direct entry into the playoffs.
  • Pre-playoffs: Teams ranking 7th through 11 are positioned for pre-playoff contention.
  • Relegation: The bottom-ranked team, currently the Grizzlys Wolfsburg, faces relegation to DEL2 (the second-tier professional league).
  • League Composition: The league consists of 14 professional teams.

Understanding the Standings

The league table tracks several key performance indicators to determine the final ranking. Beyond simple wins and losses, the system accounts for overtime results to ensure a comprehensive measure of team performance.

Performance Metrics Explained

  • Pld: Games played.
  • W: Games won in regulation time.
  • OTW: Overtime wins.
  • OTL: Overtime losses.
  • L: Games lost in regulation time.
  • GF/GA: Goals For and Goals Against.
  • GD: Goal Difference, calculated by subtracting goals against from goals for.
  • Pts: Total points accumulated.
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Current League Table

The following table outlines the current positioning of the teams within the regular season standings.

DEL Regular Season Standings Overview
Position Team Status/Qualification
1 Augsburger Panther Playoffs
2 Eisbären Berlin Playoffs
3 Fischtown Pinguins Playoffs
4 Löwen Frankfurt Playoffs
5 ERC Ingolstadt Playoffs
6 Iserlohn Roosters Playoffs
7 Kölner Haie Pre-playoffs
8 Krefeld Pinguine Pre-playoffs
9 Adler Mannheim Pre-playoffs
10 EHC Red Bull München Pre-playoffs
11 Nürnberg Ice Tigers Pre-playoffs
12 Schwenninger Wild Wings Safe
13 Straubing Tigers Safe
14 Grizzlys Wolfsburg Relegated to DEL2

Match Results and Scheduling

The league utilizes a home-and-away matrix to track results between all participating clubs. This ensures that every team faces the same level of competition across different venues, maintaining sporting integrity throughout the regular season.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams qualify directly for the playoffs?

The top six teams in the standings qualify directly for the playoffs.

What happens to the team in last place?

The team finishing in 14th place, currently the Grizzlys Wolfsburg, is relegated to DEL2.

What are pre-playoffs?

Pre-playoffs are qualifying rounds for teams that did not finish in the top six but are ranked high enough (typically 7th through 11th) to compete for a final playoff spot.

How is the goal difference (GD) calculated?

Goal difference is calculated by taking the total Goals For (GF) and subtracting the total Goals Against (GA).

Which teams are currently in the pre-playoff zone?

The teams currently positioned for pre-playoffs include Kölner Haie, Krefeld Pinguine, Adler Mannheim, EHC Red Bull München, and Nürnberg Ice Tigers.

References

  1. "Krefeld Pinguine erhalten die Lizenz für die PENNY DEL". penny-del.org. 3 June 2026.
  2. "Meister Eisbären Berlin eröffnet die Saison 2026/27". penny-del.org. 26 June 2026.