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

[zappa4ever]

Another controversial take of mine but I think the play-in tournament in the NBA has worked really well and I would like to see something similar if the NHL expands past 32 teams. I think in general it doesn't really change the race for the last slot too much but also contrary to popular belief makes the regular season mean more as there's a more stark difference between being a six and a seven seed. It would also hopefully give teams more of a reason to stop tanking.

The NHL has also had a 16 team playoff for much, much longer than it has had 32 teams, expansion wouldn't be that unnatural

I'd be totally fine with a play-in for the WC's...
normal Top-3 per division, then

option A)
4 WC's each conference in a best-of-3
WC1 v WC4, WC2 v WC3 -- lowest seeded winner plays higher seed Div winner...
then normal 4 rounds of 7
or
option B)
3 WC's each conf with only WC2+WC3 best-of-3 for the play-in
or
option C)
3 WC's each conf with a 1 game play-in between WC2+WC3

Think I'd prefer B or C (leaning C) to have 18/32 vs 20/32 with the chance

 

[qc14]

How many games in each play-in series? 3 or less seems like too much variance is involved, 5 or more and that puts the play-in teams at a huge disadvantage in terms of total games played

I really like the NBA's double-elimination style one but I agree that hockey has so much more variance it might need to be tweaked a little. I think that having extra games for the play in teams is part of the design. Don't want to be tired/banged up? Win more in the regular season

Would probably do:
7v8 best of 1 for the 7 seed
9v10 best of 1 for the right to play for the 8 seed
loser of 7v8 vs winner of 9v10 in best of 3 for the 8 seed

If you wanted to I also wouldn't be against getting rid of the 7v8 game and just having the 8th seed play the winner of 9v10 in a best of 3 for the last slot.

As a 9 or 10 seed you'd have to win 3 of 4 games to get in so it still rewards finishing higher in the regular season. 7 or 8 and you just cant lose 3 of 4.

 

[Kazer]

I really like the NBA's double-elimination style one but I agree that hockey has so much more variance it might need to be tweaked a little. I think that having extra games for the play in teams is part of the design. Don't want to be tired/banged up? Win more in the regular season

Would probably do:
7v8 best of 1 for the 7 seed
9v10 best of 1 for the right to play for the 8 seed
loser of 7v8 vs winner of 9v10 in best of 3 for the 8 seed

If you wanted to I also wouldn't be against getting rid of the 7v8 game and just having the 8th seed play the winner of 9v10 in a best of 3 for the last slot.

As a 9 or 10 seed you'd have to win 3 of 4 games to get in so it still rewards finishing higher in the regular season. 7 or 8 and you just cant lose 3 of 4.

The other key consideration is allowing the top teams to get a touch of rest without sitting too long. MLB has run into that problem with the three game wild card series. An NBA style playoff would shorten that to two days (which is pretty typical for playoffs.. Caps finished their regular season 4/16 and played their first playoff game 4/21 (regular season actually ended 4/18 but the Caps finished earlier than other teams).