League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[Pigskin]

The top of the Metro is ridiculous right now. The Atlantic kinda blows so far. At least we have 4 games in hand on NJ. And are 2nd in P%.

It’s gonna be a long bloodbath trying to secure a top 3 spot.

agree

we can't do much more and we are only keeping up with the Rags and the Canes

 

[marcel snapshot]

Metro Atlantic strength disparity (which may not last) wouldn’t matter as much if the playoff format entailed a crossover M1 v A4, M2 v A3, M3 v A2, M4 v A1 from the get go. Makes for more interesting 1st round matchups, and creates a greater likelihood of division rivals meeting deeper into the playoffs, which ups the intensity. This thing where we have 2 rounds of play against the same teams we’ve been playing all year makes no sense to me - but little that comes out of Gary Bettman’s head does

 

[qc14]

Metro Atlantic strength disparity (which may not last) wouldn’t matter as much if the playoff format entailed a crossover M1 v A4, M2 v A3, M3 v A2, M4 v A1 from the get go. Makes for more interesting 1st round matchups, and creates a greater likelihood of division rivals meeting deeper into the playoffs, which ups the intensity. This thing where we have 2 rounds of play against the same teams we’ve been playing all year makes no sense to me - but little that comes out of Gary Bettman’s head does

Yea there are a lot of things media people complain about (season too long, not marketing stars enough, tv schedule not good, 2-1-0 points system, etc.) that I think are overblown to one degree or another. The playoff system is not one of them.

Not even about the "fairness" of it to me but just that these matchups get so boring

 

[Ridley Simon]

I’m a purist. Grew up watching the divisions battle it out to make it to the conference finals.

So I have no issue — like at all — with the playoffs structure.

I’m so draconian, that I miss ties and loathe the 3 on 3.

So

 

[Marshall]

I’m so draconian, that I miss ties and loathe the 3 on 3.

Preach!

 

[Kalopsia]

I’m a purist. Grew up watching the divisions battle it out to make it to the conference finals.

So I have no issue — like at all — with the playoffs structure.

I’m so draconian, that I miss ties and loathe the 3 on 3.

So

Seems to be a pretty unpopular opinion nowadays, but I miss ties too. I don't really know why, maybe nostalgia for the way they did things when I was a kid, maybe the uniqueness of being the only one of the big 4 sports where ties were a regular occurrence, but I'd really love to have them back. Can't stand shootouts, even when the Caps were good at them.

As for playoff formats, I just want something that's simple and easy to explain. The current format with the two wildcards is a pain in the ass to explain to new fans. Either get rid of the wild cards and go all in on the divisional thing by taking the top 4 from each division and having them all face off, or just make the division winners the top 2 seeds and then fill in the next 6 like the previous format. The hybrid approach is the worst of all worlds - you screw over teams from strong divisions while still not really making it a true divisional playoffs because of the wildcard crossovers.