How many teams are in the KHL?

The KHL has 22 teams for the 2025–26 season, with the majority based in Russia and additional clubs in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China. The league operates 2 conferences and 4 divisions.

What is the Gagarin Cup?

The Gagarin Cup is the KHL's championship trophy, awarded annually since 2009 to the playoff champion. Named after Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet cosmonaut and first human in space. Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Ak Bars Kazan are tied for the most Gagarin Cup wins (3 each).

How does the KHL regular season work?

The KHL regular season runs from September through March, with each team playing 68 games. The top 8 teams in each conference qualify for the Gagarin Cup Playoffs.

Is the KHL connected to the NHL?

Not formally. The KHL is an independent league, not a developmental circuit like the AHL. Some Russian players move between the KHL and NHL, but the leagues operate under separate rules, transfer agreements, and governance.

Why is the KHL called the Kontinental Hockey League?

The name reflects the league's continental scope — operating across multiple countries and time zones rather than a single national league. Founded in 2008 through a merger of the Russian Superleague and select Kazakh and Belarus clubs, the KHL was intended as the top professional circuit in Eurasia.

Guide

KHL GUIDE

The Kontinental Hockey League — 22 teams across Russia and former Soviet states, the Gagarin Cup, and the largest professional hockey league outside the NHL.

WHAT IS THE KHL

The Kontinental Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league founded in 2008 as a merger of the Russian Superleague (RSL) and select clubs from Kazakhstan and Belarus. It is the largest professional hockey league outside the NHL by geography and roster size, and it operates as the top-level professional circuit in Russia and several neighboring countries.

Founded2008 (current form)

HeadquartersMoscow, Russia

Teams22 (4 divisions, 2 conferences)

CountriesRussia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China

Regular season68 games per team, September to March

PlayoffsGagarin Cup Playoffs, March to April

DIVISIONS AND FORMAT

The KHL is split into two conferences and four divisions. The Western Conference contains the Bobrov and Tarasov divisions; the Eastern Conference contains the Kharlamov and Chernyshev divisions.

Western Conference

Bobrov, Tarasov

Eastern Conference

Kharlamov, Chernyshev

Teams play a balanced schedule against their own division opponents and a mix of cross-division and cross-conference games. The KHL has experimented with various playoff formats, including a divisional opening round before conference brackets.

THE GAGARIN CUP PLAYOFFS

16 teams qualify (top 8 from each conference). The format has evolved over the league\'s history:

Conference Quarterfinals

8 → 4 · Best-of-7

Top 8 teams in each conference play intra-conference matchups.

Conference Semifinals

4 → 2 · Best-of-7

Winners meet within each conference.

Conference Finals

2 → 1 · Best-of-7

Western and Eastern Conference champions crowned.

Gagarin Cup Final

2 → 1 · Best-of-7

East vs West. The Gagarin Cup is awarded in April.

RECENT GAGARIN CUP CHAMPIONS

Recent champions:

2025Metallurg Magnitogorsk3rd Gagarin Cup

2024Metallurg Magnitogorsk2nd Gagarin Cup

2023CSKA Moscow2nd Gagarin Cup

2022CSKA Moscow1st Gagarin Cup

2021Avangard Omsk1st Gagarin Cup

2020No champion awardedSeason cut short due to COVID-19

FRANCHISE LEADERS

The most successful franchises in KHL history by Gagarin Cup titles:

1Metallurg Magnitogorsk3 Cups

2Ak Bars Kazan3 Cups

3CSKA Moscow2 Cups

4SKA Saint Petersburg2 Cups

5Avangard Omsk1 Cups

FOLLOW THE KHL

Browse the directory to find KHL teams, scores, and standings.

→ All 22 KHL teams → KHL standings and playoff bracket → IIHF World Championship Guide → Stanley Cup Guide (NHL)

RELATED GUIDES

IIHF World Championship Guide — national-team tournament
Stanley Cup Guide
AHL Guide — the NHL\'s primary developmental league
NHL Draft Guide