The recent history of the Malmo Redhawks made their qualification for the Champions Hockey League last season all the more remarkable.

Relegated from the SHL in 2005, and then again after promotion in 2006, the team has spent the last eight seasons in Sweden's Allsvenskan league before finally being promoted back up to the top flight in 2015. After failing to make the post-season in the 2015/16 season, the Redhawks had a flying start to the 2016/17 campaign - going undefeated over the first weeks of the season. A disappointing finish saw then eventually end 8th in the SHL, but a fantastic playoff run to the semi-finals got them to the CHL.

Last season the Redhawks secured a Top 6 finish in the SHL and eliminated Frölunda on the way to the Semi-Finals. Växjö proved, however, to be too strong and knocked them out in four games. In their CHL debut season, Malmö came through their group top over Kometa Brno, KalPa Kuopio, and Stavanger Oilers - before falling to Oceláři Třinec in the Quarter-Finals.