The current playoffs format is BROKEN

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

There has never been a perfect playoff format, and no amount of tinkering will make it perfect. The current system is likely the best we've had since the O6 era. With the wild card spots, at least you're not artificially elevating teams that don't deserve to be in the playoffs: only one team this year that was in the top 16 regular season finishes didn't make the playoffs (Calgary). The Panthers ended up being 11th overall this year and are likely to win it again, and the 10th overall Hurricanes just took out the 2nd overall Capitals. I'm not sure what people expect: regardless of who any given team faces in any given round, the more competitive playoff team prevails. There are upsets every year no matter the format; there are always odds-on favorite teams that have trouble getting by teams perceived to be lesser by fans & media; there are cakewalks and tough series, but the team that endures 4 rounds and walks away with the Big Prize, no matter who they beat or how they get there, is always going to be the most deserving.

I think it's mostly just sour grapes from fans of teams that get knocked out. Why not just do away with the playoffs and have the 1st and 2nd place teams play each other, why bother with all the other teams? Is that what people would prefer? Ridiculous. You draw the team you draw, and if you can't defeat your opponents, that's on your team, not on the format.

 

[PistolPete]

A thought is that by creating some more interesting matchups in the first and second round (which is sort of being accomplished in practice; whether or not they intended this is up for debate) draws the viewers in, and then in the conference finals and the finals themselves, with the stakes being inherently higher, they can keep viewership up. By doing this, the overall viewership across the four rounds is higher.

I'm not saying that's their intention, whether it's working (or not), or whether I agree with this approach, it's just a thought.

Makes sense.

Wait a minute! Bettman?!

Who ya think ya foolin'?! Posing as an Arizonan who became a hockey fan when everyone knows they don't exist. It's all making sense now!

 

[PistolPete]

It really isn't that complicated.

Existing rivalry matchups like TOR/BOS make the highest gate (and get high ratings, usually).

The current system makes those matchups more likely (even if it's earlier in the playoffs than fans might like) and is trying to make it so that FLA/TBL for example becomes the same kind of money-making rivalry after enough time.

That's it. That's the whole reason.

The NHL would rather get big money in the 1st round, than risk not getting that matchup in the 3rd round cause of an injury or a hot goalie or whatever.

Yeah. That's what I thought but I was questioning if it was enough of a motive. But hearing it laid out like that by you and SummerRose...I mean Bettman in disguise....

Wait a minute! Daly?!
Man, you guys will do anything to convince the masses!

 

[nturn06]

The West would be more interesting too...

1) WPG vs 8) STL
2) VGK vs 7) MIN
3) DAL vs 6) EDM
4) COL vs 5) LAK

1) WPG vs 6) EDM
2) VGK vs 4) COL

4) COL vs 6) EDM

We're getting a 1st round matchup in the WCF. It's a dumb format change on the surface. I would have to see if revenues and viewership numbers are up compared to the old 1-8 format. This "rivalry" nonsense is a complete failure of understanding what makes rivalries in the playoffs.

Why does everyone assume that with a different format, teams that now had nothing to fight for would still be mailing in the last few games?

With a different format, the final standings would be a bit different; teams would have more things to fight for in the last couple of weeks. Interestingly, one more win by LAK or EDM, and your format becomes the current one.

 

[T REX]

There has never been a perfect playoff format, and no amount of tinkering will make it perfect. The current system is likely the best we've had since the O6 era. With the wild card spots, at least you're not artificially elevating teams that don't deserve to be in the playoffs: only one team this year that was in the top 16 regular season finishes didn't make the playoffs (Calgary). The Panthers ended up being 11th overall this year and are likely to win it again, and the 10th overall Hurricanes just took out the 2nd overall Capitals. I'm not sure what people expect: regardless of who any given team faces in any given round, the more competitive playoff team prevails. There are upsets every year no matter the format; there are always odds-on favorite teams that have trouble getting by teams perceived to be lesser by fans & media; there are cakewalks and tough series, but the team that endures 4 rounds and walks away with the Big Prize, no matter who they beat or how they get there, is always going to be the most deserving.

I think it's mostly just sour grapes from fans of teams that get knocked out. Why not just do away with the playoffs and have the 1st and 2nd place teams play each other, why bother with all the other teams? Is that what people would prefer? Ridiculous. You draw the team you draw, and if you can't defeat your opponents, that's on your team, not on the format.

zero sour grapes...lightning won 2 cups so your theory? BS. wrong. Best grapes ever!

lots of words but zero understanding of things like marketing or fan appeal or TV ratings or the NFL or tv ratings...lol

embarrassing post

 

[wunderpanda]

playoff format doesn't matter, you are just sad your team isn't in the final 4. shorten the playoffs to division winners:
leafs-caps
knights-jets
people will still complain

 

[PistolPete]

zero sour grapes...lightning won 2 cups so your theory? BS. wrong. Best grapes ever!

lots of words but zero understanding of things like marketing or fan appeal or TV ratings or the NFL or tv ratings...lol

embarrassing post

Actually his/her post is very astute.

Perhaps it's not sour grapes in your part but that's not to say that isn't the case for others.

 

[Anisimovs AK]

Florida has quite a bit of off ice incentive to attract quality players. Can't say the same for many other NHL teams.

Florida was also one of the worst franchises in sports for their first 30 years.


If it really was just about taxes and the beach, why didnt they become better sooner?

 

[Anisimovs AK]

This is flawed. Tampa and Washington would be in the same division under the old format and the schedules would be different. Those wouldn’t be the match-ups.

In OP's example they still only have 2 divisions

 

[Fatass]

Why does everyone assume that with a different format, teams that now had nothing to fight for would still be mailing in the last few games?

With a different format, the final standings would be a bit different; teams would have more things to fight for in the last couple of weeks. Interestingly, one more win by LAK or EDM, and your format becomes the current one.

Yup. And the clubs in each Conference would need to play each other equally. Which would change the matchups, from what they currently are, even more.

 

[Booker T]

zero sour grapes...lightning won 2 cups so your theory? BS. wrong. Best grapes ever!

lots of words but zero understanding of things like marketing or fan appeal or TV ratings or the NFL or tv ratings...lol

embarrassing post

 

[Riseonfire]

It feels like the NHL wants to cast a wide net spatially with the Division format.

It ensures the NYI and NYR could never have an ECF along with like a LAK/ANA WCF.

 

[NorthStar4Canes]

Fans deserve the best match ups in later rounds when the stakes are higher. The NFL.KNOWS this...they own sports in NA.

The nhl doesn't. The fans deserve better.

Incompetence.

"Fans deserve the best matchups" and you sing the praises of the NFL? As a championship game, the Super Bowl is notorious for more often than not for bering boring, lopsided, pure crap etc etc. You actually couldn't have picked a worse example. The difference between the hype and actual product is legendary.

The NFL is excellent at marketing and hype selling their game as the whole "clash of titans" with dramatic music and player storylines but, on game day, look nothing like what occurs on the field.

I understood this thread to be about what occurs on the ice, not TV ratings and hype. The faux concern over TV ratings by some is amusing.

 

[NorthStar4Canes]

Is it possible that neutral fans would like the best teams playing in the WCF/ECF? Is it possible the networks would as well? And even if you had a lower seed knock off a 1 or 2 seed you now have that Cinderella element which is HUGE for ratings. People love cheering for the underdog. This format is an abomination.

Won't somebody think of the Networks!

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

I wouldn't be against seeing a playoff matchup not based on conference or division but pure seeding. I know they would have to alter how the seeding stacks up during the RSbut it would be cool to switch it up like thay imo. Not for any perceived advantage some teams may have but just to see some unique matchups.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Been saying since implentation that it was a dumb, poorly thought out format and nothing's changed my stance on it.

The sooner the league goes back to the standard 1v8, with division winners getting the two top spots, the better.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that system.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

Complaints about the format, taxes, reffing all sounds like sour grapes from teams that just aren’t good enough to me.

 

[Curufinwe]

The real reason is because their teams keep losing lol come on now

I loathe the current playoff format and the Flyers haven't played a playoff game in Philly since 2018.

 

[Curufinwe]

Not gonna lie, this third round sucks. Should be the best two left in each conference…that this is not.

1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5 with re-seeding after the first round is my ideal format

No one cares about filling out a NHL bracket challenge

 

[Fatass]

Been saying since implentation that it was a dumb, poorly thought out format and nothing's changed my stance on it.

The sooner the league goes back to the standard 1v8, with division winners getting the two top spots, the better.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that system.

Then there will need to be a balanced schedule for all the clubs in each Conference. No need for the divisions.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It feels like the NHL wants to cast a wide net spatially with the Division format.

It ensures the NYI and NYR could never have an ECF along with like a LAK/ANA WCF.

That’s false, with the wild card and a 5 from one division and 3 from another. It definitely can happen with the crossover.

 

[Curufinwe]

The divisions reduce travel, and would do so more efficiently if the league hadn't made the absurd Atlantic run from Miami to Montreal.

Swap TB and Fla with Pit and CBJ, and then there'd be a lot less miles traveled in the East. No one should mind if the Flyers and Pens play each other 3 times a season instead of 4.

 

[Golden_Jet]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that system.

Actually there was, when there were 3 divisions winners getting 1-3, there was always one weak division..

 

[Tryblot]

I love the divisional format. I enjoy seeing the same teams play each other again, and again, and again. It creates a storyline, hatred, and urgency.

 

[Curufinwe]

I love the divisional format. I enjoy seeing the same teams play each other again, and again, and again. It creates a storyline, hatred, and urgency.

Kings-Oilers created nothing but boredom.