Sore Loser
Sorest of them all
XM Radio was saying earlier in the week how there may be some whining going on under new playoff format when some top teams have to meet in first round. Personally, I like the idea of building rivalries through the divisional seeding and it may benefit CBJ this year. As a hypothetical, if final standings were something like:
1. Boston 108 points
2 Pittsburgh 107 points
3. Toronto 100 points
4. Montreal 99 points
5. Tampa 98 points
6. Detroit 97 points
7. New York Rangers 94 points
8. Columbus 93 points
The "old" conference seeding would have:
1)Boston vs 8)Columbus
2)Pittsburgh vs 7)New York
3)Toronto vs 6)Detroit
4)Montreal vs 5)Tampa
Now, would be:
A) Boston vs Detroit
B) Toronto vs Montreal
C) Pittsburgh vs Tampa
D) New York vs Columbus
Winner A vs Winner B
Winner C vs Winner D
Although a hypothetical, you'd eliminate either the 3rd or 4th best team in Conference in round one (Toronto vs. Montreal) and Montreal wouldn't get home ice advantage. You could have Pittsburgh facing a tougher Tampa team (5th overall) instead of the 7th overall Rangers. And, 7th overall Rangers get home ice for first round against an 8th best overall Blue Jackets.
Good thoughts.
Personally, I like the divisional playoff format ... I agree with what you said here and think that it will bring back some of the old blood-hatred rivalries.
For those of us who grew up with the Chill, there was (and still may be) nothing like the Chill/Toledo Storm rivalry. I hated everything about that team ... I think part of that stemmed from them playing each other early in the playoffs from time to time, and never having the ability to get past them. I would much rather see us build some real inter-division rivalries than have a series against a team that out-classes us in every aspect.
