Overview

• The champions begin on September 9 at home against promoted Dresdner Eislöwen in the Uber Arena, with the opener already sold out.
• Sport director Stéphane Richer said captain Kai Wissmann suffered an Achilles injury in preparation and is expected to miss four to six months.
• Berlin kept most of its core, replacing departures such as Zach Boychuk, Gabriel Fontaine and Olivier Galipeau with forwards Andreas Eder and Markus Vikingstad.
• Before the DEL opener, CHL home games bring Lukko Rauma to the Wellblechpalast on Friday and Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble on Sunday.
• Pundits tip Adler Mannheim and Red Bull München as the primary challengers after off-season moves including Justin Schütz to Mannheim and coach Oliver David and defenseman Ryan Murphy to Munich.