Should the NHL increase the number of teams making the playoffs?

[Gee Wally]

I dont see how either side would agree to a reduction in games.

Any reduction is a financial hit. So either prices have to go up or salary/cap has to go down.

 

[LSCII]

Over half the teams make it. If anything, I'd support fewer teams making it. It's watered down enough.

This. Is. Exactly. Right.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I dont see how either side would agree to a reduction in games.

Any reduction is a financial hit. So either prices have to go up or salary/cap has to go down.

Any proposal for fewer games just adds to the regular season being more pointless. Not to mention more teams in the playoffs would just make the trade deadline pointless as well. It would just be that fewer sellers. This whole idea is just bad on so many levels.

 

[BklyNBruiN]

No No No.. I swear the NHL is a joke. I guess if it will make them some money they'll do it. How many teams make the playoffs rite now, what half of the league, 16 is it. LOL. Than playing 82 games would be pointless!

At least its something to talk about here in the forum. hehe.

 

[Terrier]

An absolute no.

 

[hoss75]

 

[Fenway]

The consensus is from a completion standpoint to keep things the way they are.

But the NHL is a business first and more teams means more games and more money.

The largest team sporting event in the world today expanded by 16 more teams and this will not go unnoticed by the owners.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/10/fifa-world-cup-expansion-approved

FIFA will expand the World Cup to 48 teams starting at the 2026 tournament, soccer's world governing body announced Tuesday following a unanimous vote by the FIFA Council.

The World Cup will add 16 nations and the format will include 16 three-team groups with the top two in each advancing to a round of 32. The change is the first to the tournament since 1998, when the World Cup expanded to 32 teams.

 

[Therick67]

The consensus is from a completion standpoint to keep things the way they are.

But the NHL is a business first and more teams means more games and more money.

The largest team sporting event in the world today expanded by 16 more teams and this will not go unnoticed by the owners.

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/10/fifa-world-cup-expansion-approved

I just don't think these things are comparable.

 

[Gordoff]

"Should the NHL expand the number of teams that make the playoffs?"

I guess they'll have to once they expand to the Chinese division!

 

[EverettMike]

Terrible decision by FIFA.

 

[Aeroforce]

I wouldn't add any more series, and a bye week could actually work against teams that earn them (aside from giving injuries time to heal). It's common to see a team that advances early in a series needing time to get back to game speed in the next round.

If they wanted to do something like baseball and have a single game elimination between fringe teams, that would give a brief respite to better teams, generate a little more revenue, and keep more fan bases interested.

It would also give teams that are playing better late in the season a better chance of overcoming standings deficits from earlier in the season.

 

[Therick67]

Terrible decision by FIFA.

So you can count on the NHL to follow

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Terrible decision by FIFA.

Believe you may have made comment earlier in the thread very similar to the one below. It is the headline of a piece done by TSN soccer analyst Kristain Jack. Never enough dough for those who have the most.

"Jack: World Cup expansion comes down to FIFA greed"

 

[KnightofBoston]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with letting the 9th and 10th teams duke it out over 3 games for the right to play the first place team in their conference which gets a bye. And I'd also like to see it go back to the old format, the fact that the rangers are 4th in the league but a wild card for the playoffs makes no sense


It would take away the sting of trying to make the playoffs only to fall just short and not even get a good pick, you'd know you get to watch your team for at least 2 more games of "playoff hockey" with the chance to play at least 4 against the best team in your conference.

This also would require the game to improve on other ways though, as I feel it's become less interesting as a general product

Potential benefits:

Additional revenue for owners is good for everyone in the long run

Makes placing first in your conference about more than just home through the the first 3 rounds guaranteed, your players get a rest after a successful season and since the playoffs are a war of attrition in many ways this can greatly benefit your team

Creates more room for drama and upsets which attracts casual fan interests

Media can market the extra games


Maybe it's just me, but I like things like this far more than a team in Las Vegas, slowing the game down with the review, and slowly eliminating fighting while doing little about chippy play that actually causes injuries and headshots on stars

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with letting the 9th and 10th teams duke it out over 3 games for the right to play the first place team in their conference which gets a bye. And I'd also like to see it go back to the old format, the fact that the rangers are 4th in the league but a wild card for the playoffs makes no sense


It would take away the sting of trying to make the playoffs only to fall just short and not even get a good pick, you'd know you get to watch your team for at least 2 more games of "playoff hockey" with the chance to play at least 4 against the best team in your conference.

This also would require the game to improve on other ways though, as I feel it's become less interesting as a general product

Potential benefits:

Additional revenue for owners is good for everyone in the long run

Makes placing first in your conference about more than just home through the the first 3 rounds guaranteed, your players get a rest after a successful season and since the playoffs are a war of attrition in many ways this can greatly benefit your team

Creates more room for drama and upsets which attracts casual fan interests

Media can market the extra games


Maybe it's just me, but I like things like this far more than a team in Las Vegas, slowing the game down with the review, and slowly eliminating fighting while doing little about chippy play that actually causes injuries and headshots on stars

Many of those thoughts can create excitement. The unintended consequences can also bring about the opposite side of those pros. For the NHL there is an image created with the move being the equivalent of inviting AHL or ECHL calibre teams into the league.

An earlier post, in a response to Everett Mike, contained comments on the FIFA decision by an analyst for that sport. It also contained this quote that many here have echoed as well.

"Revenues will rise, but quality will suffer in expanded World Cup"

 

[rudos1]

NO!!!!!

 

[5pointslow]

i feel there are to many teams that make it now 1/2 does

letting more in would be like handing out participation trophys , you know how many gm's would be like " well atleast we made the playoffs " lol

 

[ReggieMoto]

Yes, the number of teams making the playoffs should increase by one. This should coincide with the expansion of one more team, taking the total number of teams from 31 to 32. Then full stop.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

...

I'm going to go against the grain and say that I just don't give a ****.

There are more teams in the league... A case can be made for having more in the playoffs.

The system right now however, is just fine and doesn't really need anything (aside from perhaps treating the 3-on-3 as having less value than a win in regulation).

Either way, I won't whoop with excitement. And I won't groan with disgust.

Whatevs.

 

[BMC]

Absolutely not.

I know the # of teams isn't going to be retracted but I am absolute opposed to increasing the present #. The lower seeds 6-8) are basically cannon fodder unless they get super hot in a hurry, making for lousy hockey. And the game is bad enough during the regular season.

Then there is the lengthening of an already too long season. Hell it is mid June by the time the Cup is raised. Ridiculous.