Kontinental Hockey League team changes

From the league's inception in 2008 until 2010 there were always team changes in the Kontinental Hockey League between seasons as some new teams joined the league while others left it. There is no promotion/relegation system with the VHL in place like there was with the Superleague and Vysshaya Liga. The number of teams in the league stayed at 24 throughout the first two seasons. In the third season the number of teams was reduced to 23 because Budivelnyk, a team that planned to join the league, dropped out before the start of the season.[1] Initially, Lev Poprad replaced Budivelnyk to retain the number of teams at 24.[2] However, Lev was excluded by the KHL before the start of that season,[3] but would be accepted into the league for 2011–12. The league plans to expand this number for future seasons.

The inaugural season of KHL included all 20 teams of the 2007–08 Russian Superleague. Non–Russian teams Barys Astana, Dinamo Riga and Dinamo Minsk also joined the newly formed league. Likewise, the recreated team of Khimik Voskresensk, the champion of the 2007–08 season of the Major League, joined. Thus the initial number of teams was 24.

Team changes by season

Season Teams left the league Fate of the team   Teams joined the league Where from Number of teams in the league
2008–09 inaugural season of competition 24
2009–10 Khimik Joined VHL   Avtomobilist VHL 24
2010–11 Lada Joined VHL UHC Dynamo Newly created team by merger of Dynamo and MVD 23
Dynamo Merged with MVD to form UHC Dynamo Yugra VHL
MVD Merged with Dynamo to form UHC Dynamo
2011–12 Lokomotiv Scratched from season due to plane tragedy Lev Newly created team 23

Division lineup changes

Season Divisions
Bobrov Tarasov Kharlamov Chernyshev
Joined division Left division Joined division Left division Joined division Left division Joined division Left division
2008–09
(initial composition)
Atlant
Dinamo Mn
Metallurg Nk
Salavat Yulaev
Severstal
Spartak
CSKA
Khimik
Metallurg Mg
HC MVD
SKA
Traktor
Amur
Avangard
Dinamo R
Lada
Lokomotiv
Sibir
Ak Bars
Barys
Dynamo M
Neftekhimik
Torpedo
Vityaz
2009–10
(geographical realignment)
CSKA
Dynamo M
Dinamo R
SKA
Atlant
Metallurg Nk
Salavat Yulaev
Severstal
Atlant
Lokomotiv
Severstal
Torpedo
Vityaz
CSKA
Khimik
Metallurg Mg
SKA
Traktor
Ak Bars
Avtomobilist
Metallurg Mg
Neftekhimik
Traktor
Amur
Avangard
Dinamo R
Lokomotiv
Sibir
Amur
Avangard
Metallurg Nk
Salavat Yulaev
Sibir
Ak Bars
Dynamo M
Neftekhimik
Torpedo
Vityaz
2010–11 UHC Dynamo Dynamo M
Dinamo Mn
Dinamo Mn HC MVD Yugra Lada
2011–12 Lev Lokomotiv

References

  1. ^ "Budivelnik will not play in KHL". Kontinental Hockey League. 26 June 2010. http://en.khl.ru/news/2010/6/26/23872.html. Retrieved 26 June 2010. 
  2. ^ "HC Lev to join KHL". Kontinental Hockey League. 19 July 2010. http://en.khl.ru/news/2010/7/19/23874.html. Retrieved 19 July 2010. 
  3. ^ "«Лев» не сыграет в ближайшем сезоне" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 28 July 2010. http://www.khl.ru/news/2010/7/28/27728.html. Retrieved 29 July 2010.