Get rid of wildcard spot

[Based Anime Fan]

This is 100% the reason to stay away from it. We’ve already seen the suggestion at work in the NHL, there is good reason they moved way from it

We've also seen division winners have less points and have home ice against their 1st round opponent becuase they were 'higher' in the standings, specifically Florida - New Jersey in 2012.

No system can be 100% perfect

 

[Pavels Dog]

There are already too many divisional matchups in playoffs.

"Rivalries" are essentially a figment of imagination at this point. It's much more fun to get to see new matchups in the playoffs. Imagine Toronto facing anyone, literally anyone, except Boston in the playoffs?

 

[Ratsreign]

We've also seen division winners have less points and have home ice against their 1st round opponent becuase they were 'higher' in the standings, specifically Florida - New Jersey in 2012.

No system can be 100% perfect

The good ol’ Southleast Division....

 

[Aashir]

Consistent rivalries have been proven boring at this point tbh. Go back to 1-8. Nobody wants to see Oilers/Kings again.

That’s because that’s not a rivalry, it is a one way beat down

Similar to Toronto vs Boston, which always goes Boston in 7

I’d argue tampa is a bigger rival to the leafs as we are 1-1 against them, it’s a fun series to watch because either team can win, with the other two you sorta know how it’s gonna go

As for the title, I don’t agree, there could be years where there are 5 teams in one division deserving of the playoffs and three in the other. i think the format is fine as is, any changes I’ve seen suggested usually make it worse.

 

[Toby91ca]

We've also seen division winners have less points and have home ice against their 1st round opponent becuase they were 'higher' in the standings, specifically Florida - New Jersey in 2012.

No system can be 100% perfect

Right, but it would be even worse going with top 4 in each division because that team you suggested had more points than the division winner would likely not even be in the playoffs anymore.

 

[Three On Zero]

Rather than get rid of the wildcard, they need to permanently adopt the play-in format.

 

[1989]

Division winners are locks.

Then it should just be the teams with the most points afterwards. Who cares what division someone is from. The best make it in and rivalries form naturally and evolve over time.

I prefer this as well, as it paints a much clearer picture of who is actually playoff-deserving vs artificially creating "bye" spots in each division. Either 1 or 2 division leaders and the rest hash it out by points or points %.

 

[CBJx614]

I prefer this as well, as it paints a much clearer picture of who is actually playoff-deserving vs artificially creating "bye" spots in each division. Either 1 or 2 division leaders and the rest hash it out by points or points %.

I feel like I finding myself saying this more than I should but I like the NFL model. Conference leader gets a first round bye and home advantage. Everyone else has to duke it out.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...first off, the Divisions need to be aligned properly; having Tampa and Sunrise in the Atlantic division is moronic, always has been...

 

[x Tame Impala]

Go back to the 1-8 system. 4 Divisions where each Division winner is guaranteed a top 3 seed to balance out that weird South East Division seeding we saw a few times.

This system is boring and CST teams still have to play games with 8:45pm puck drops against other CST opponents in the playoffs anyway. Stupid, terrible, boring system.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Every team already play every team twice for 62 games, an additional 20 is played within div/conference.

With the current parity where every team can be at anyone every given night, and the schedule variations. I don't think the impact or presumed opponent thoughness variations warrants the wild card system an I would much prefer going back to 1v8 format.

 

[eojsmada]

I would just prefer the 2 WC spots and then do 1-8 from that, with a reshuffle after every round.

 

[Grifter3511]

Thats what i would like to see to, WC is just a headache to follow in the standings also.

That 5th place team has more points than that 4th place team. I guess that means they're in the playoffs. Ow, my head hurts.

 

[Golden_Jet]

...first off, the Divisions need to be aligned properly; having Tampa and Sunrise in the Atlantic division is moronic, always has been...

How would you re-align divisions then

 

[FissionFire]

Rather they just get rid of divisions entirely and take the top 8 teams in each conference. Or eliminate conferences and take the top 16 teams overall

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

How would re-align divisions then

...geographically...Tampa & Sunrise (Florida) would move to the Metro and two of the North-Eastern Metro teams would move to the Atlantic (the NY's, NJ, Philly, Pitt)...hell, you could even make a case for Columbus to move to the Atlantic...

 

[Golden_Jet]

Rather they just get rid of divisions entirely and take the top 16 teams in each conference. Or eliminate conferences and take the top 32 teams overall

So every team makes the playoffs then, not a fan of that.

 

[Mr Positive]

Imo we should keep the wildcard just to make sure that the best teams make it

However why not make it so that if wildcard is split, with one from each division, that they each stay in their division? As it stands you could have Calgary play in the central division playoffs and the Avs in the Pacific

I don't mind it that much, but if they want to do the divisional playoffs then this cements that more. Only have a crossover when both wildcards are from the same division

 

[FissionFire]

So every team makes the playoffs then, not a fan of that.

You know what I meant

 

[EdmFlyersfan]

The NHL should go back to #1 vs #16 model, with the way the game is played now the old rivalries are not the same anymore.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The NHL should go back to #1 vs #16 model, with the way the game is played now the old rivalries are not the same anymore.

There is no chance of that happening again, travel and the chance of east coast games starting at 10-10:30 pm, wouldn’t fly. Too many viewers would be lost.

 

[DVision44]

...geographically...Tampa & Sunrise (Florida) would move to the Metro and two of the North-Eastern Metro teams would move to the Atlantic (the NY's, NJ, Philly, Pitt)...hell, you could even make a case for Columbus to move to the Atlantic...

How do you say geographically and then propose moving any of the teams in the NY/Nj metro area out of the division?

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

How do you say geographically and then propose moving any of the teams in the NY/Nj metro area out of the division?

...cuz it makes sense geographically to move 2 North Eastern teams to the Atlantic and the Florida teams to the Metro...rename the damn division if they want...or move Philly & Pitt...or Columbus...

 

[Dirty Mind]

If anything the NHL will probably go the NBA model and do 7vs8/9vs10 to decide the wildcards. Would get four more teams in the playoff picture and therefore build more excitement without sacrificing the playoff structure of 4 7-game rounds.

 

[BLNY]

Dumb idea or not but instead of the two wildcard spots why not just have top 4 teams in each division make the post season?

Currently in the Atlantic the top four are

Florida

Toronto

Ottawa

Tampa

Have 1v4 and 2v3 no need for wildcard spot.

Could make rivalries more fun and intense since there's more chance of consistent rivalries. I remember the 2013 sens vs Habs series make hate Montreal alot. Think what a Battle of Ontario could do.

Out west we could get Battle of Alberta and Vegas vs Kings. Bettman would be grinning from joy.

Edit: soo top 4 teams in each of the four Divisions would make it in no wildcard spots. Meaning 16 teams qualify.

It's the way it used to be. And I would have no issue with it. League thinks wildcard is more equitable because it would keep a "Norris Division" with four weak teams from making the playoffs.

NHL would never.

Less games, less money.

Same number of games. Still 16 teams. Instead of 1v8 times 2, it's 1v4 times 4. It's also the way it used to be.