Around the NHL: 2024-25 Season, Are You Not Entertained?

[sabremike]

Totally agreed. What I would do, personally:

No wild cards, but adjust the schedule.

8 games vs. teams in the division (56 games)
2 games vs. teams in the other division in your conference (16 games)
1 game against each team in another division in the other conference (8 games)
80 games. 74% against teams in your division. Playoffs are simple: top 4 in each division...play to a division champ, then conference champ, then SC champ.

The alternative, keeping wild cards but adjusting that: top 2 in every division, then next best 4. Top 2 in each division get home ice advantage (ie, they're the top 4 seeds).
5 games vs. teams in your division (35 games)
4 games vs. teams in the other division in your conference (32 games)
2 games vs. teams in another division in the other conference (16 games)
83 games. Vast majority in-conference with a slight edge to divisional play. Playoffs are a straight 1-8 seed (again, top 2 in each division get the top 4 seeds). No re-seeding.

If you want to go crazy with mike's 16-team-single-division idea:
4 games vs. every other team in your conference (60 games)
1 game vs. each team in the other conference (16 games)
1 "extra" game vs. teams that used to be in your division

I don't think that expanding the playoff field is a real option for one major reason: regardless of what basketball players say/believe/think.....the playoffs in hockey are by far the most endurance-testing time in any of the major sports. Adding more playoff hockey might lead the players to revolt.

MAYBE expanding the playoffs could work if the round of 16 (and maybe the round of 8) were Bo5. Not sure if there's appetite for that though.

The first proposal would make the Division Of Death problem a billion times worse, the second would be far more sensible. I also don't know why players would object to the NBA style thing where it's an extra few games or getting a chance to play for the cup they otherwise wouldn't have.

 

[Gras]

The first proposal would make the Division Of Death problem a billion times worse, the second would be far more sensible. I also don't know why players would object to the NBA style thing where it's an extra few games or getting a chance to play for the cup they otherwise wouldn't have.

No Division, No Conference, Play every team 3 times

1st round of Playoffs is Swiss System of the Top 16 Teams, Round 1 and 2 of Swiss are B01, Elimination and Advancement are B03 Top 8 Advance to Bracket Style Playoffs.

 

[Chainshot]

Tampa fans are worried -

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

The O6 era had 66% of teams make the playoffs. hockey has almost never had this low a cut.

It’s not a coincidence that drought records are being broken now. 50% playoffs combined with the calcification effects of the draft lottery and NTC ensure it.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

The O6 era had 66% of teams make the playoffs. hockey has almost never had this low a cut.

It’s not a coincidence that drought records are being broken now. 50% playoffs combined with the calcification effects of the draft lottery and NTC ensure it.

Funny thing is, only the NBA has a higher percentage of playoff teams than the NHL does:

NHL: 16/32 (50%)
NFL: 14/32 (44%)
MLB: 12/30 (40%)
NBA: 20/30 (67%)

And I honestly wouldn't be against the NHL adopting the NBA's current format. And for the hell of it, here's what that would look like using the current standings:

EAST

1. New Jersey
2. Washington
3. Carolina
4. Florida
5. Toronto
6. Tampa Bay

PLAY IN

7. NY Rangers
8. Boston
9. Philadelphia
10. Buffalo

BOS @ NYR (Winner is 7 seed)
BUF @ PHI (Loser eliminated)
BUF/PHI winner @ BOS/NYR loser (Winner is 8 seed, loser eliminated)

WEST

1. Winnipeg
2. Minnesota
3. Vegas
4. Los Angeles
5. Calgary
6. Vancouver

PLAY IN

7. Dallas
8. Colorado
9. Edmonton
10. Seattle

COL @ DAL (Winner is 7 seed)
SEA @ EDM (Loser eliminated)
SEA/EDM winner @ COL/DAL loser (Winner is 8 seed, loser eliminated)

 

[Der Jaeger]

Fab to playing well for Columbus.

Once upon a time, Olofsson was coming off a 18 goal season, Nashville needed power play help, and Fabbro was in the doghouse.

Easy move to make.

 

[Chainshot]

I see Erik Portillo debuted and won a 2-1 decision tonight for LA.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Check out Rantanen’s goal (3rd of game for Colorado) if you wanna see Makar just dummy Dallas. Such a ridiculous talent- cuts through 5 guys, draws em all in, and makes the pass.

 

[Chainshot]

Old time hockey? Eddie Shore?

 

[Fjordy]

Fab to playing well for Columbus.

Once upon a time, Olofsson was coming off a 18 goal season, Nashville needed power play help, and Fabbro was in the doghouse.

Easy move to make.

It was an easy move for a good GM, but not for ours.