Hockey Levels and Routes
NHL
The NHL was established in 1917 and has 25 teams in the United States and 7 teams in Canada.
The NHL, also known as the National Hockey Hockey League, is made up of a total of 32 teams divided into 4 divisions.
The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion.
Also the average age of an NHL player in between 28-30
KHL
AHL
Also known as the American Hockey League is viewed as the highest level of minor league hockey. The AHL serves as the primary developmental league for the NHL.
The average age in the AHL is 18-24 as they are affiliate teams of the NHL which means the league is primarily for development and a chance for players to prove themselves.
The AHL is a 32 team league replicating the NHL. Which means each NHL team has an affiliate team.
Examples:
Seattle Kraken's affiliate team is the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Thousand Palms, California, Anaheim Ducks affiliate team is the San Diego Gulls in San Diego, California, Arizona Coyotes affiliate team is the Tucson Roadrunners in Tucson, Arizona.
The Kontinental Hockey League has teams in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and China for a total of 23 clubs
KHL cannot sign KHL-rostered players without negotiating with the Russian Central Registry about player status.There is a chance Russian-born players may be denied status to play in the NHL.
The top 30 in the KHL add up to a shade over $55MM, while the NHL's top 30 cap hits amount to a jaw dropping $291.15MM.
NCAA Hockey
There are 60 NCAA division 1 hockey teams mostly in the Northeast and Upper Midwest regions of the United States.
The average age of a NCAA hockey player is 23. Which is the four years older than the average college student.
CHL
The average commitment age for NCAA Division I men's hockey is 19. Most players are 21, 22, or 23. By the time they graduate, student-athletes are 24.
The 2023 NHL Entry Draft selected 69 current or committed NCAA Division I players
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is an umbrella organization for junior ice hockey leagues in Canada.
The CHL represents the three major junior leagues in Canada: the Quebec Major Junior League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Western Hockey League (WHL).
The CHL has 60 teams for the 2023–24 season. 51 teams are located in nine Canadian provinces, and nine teams are located in four American states.
The CHL currently places a cap of three 20-year-old-or-over players per team, commonly known as "overage players". The CHL also allows up to four 16-year-olds on each roster.