The current playoffs format is BROKEN

[Puikiou]

Just in the East, here's how round 1 would have played out if it was 1 to 8 instead of this long in the tooth division rivalry crap:


- WSH (1) vs MTL (8) : Unchanged, WSH wins.

- TOR (2) vs NJD (7) : Fresh matchup, TOR likely wins.

- TBL (3) vs OTT (6) : Fresh matchup, TBL likely wins.

- CAR (4) vs FLA (5) : Fresh matchup, the eternal pretenders are exposed much sooner and likely out in round one.


Instead:

- We had the lopsided EDM vs LAK matchup for the thirteenth time in a row.
- Two legit contenders facing off in round 1 (x2) in TBL vs FLA and DAL vs COL.
- A brutal team like the Canes sneaking into the conference finals.
Etc. Etc.

Why is the league hell bent on this terrible format? And why is there not more noise about it among execs, media and fans?

 

[Montreal Shadow]

This format is dumb as we always get the same match-ups year after year. The NHL is such a f***ing stupid league.

 

[Alexei Yashvalev]

Are you not excited by the formation of rivalries that all end with the first round?

- The League, probably

 

[NYRnine94]

That's how it is. Teams need to get better and GMs need to grow some balls and make tough moves to make their teams better. Florida did it, they can too.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

That's how it is. Teams need to get better and GMs need to grow some balls and make tough moves to make their teams better. Florida did it, they can too.

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

 

[NYRnine94]

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

So what does that mean? To just give up? GMs need to be better and more open minded and be better at making their teams better.

 

[Booker T]

I can almost hear the whinging and heavy breathing while you typed this out.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

So what does that mean? To just give up? GMs need to be better and more open minded and be better at making their teams better.

I think you should forward your resume to an nhl team.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Just in the East, here's how round 1 would have played out if it was 1 to 8 instead of this long in the tooth division rivalry crap:


- WSH (1) vs MTL (8) : Unchanged, WSH wins.

- TOR (2) vs NJD (7) : Fresh matchup, TOR likely wins.

- TBL (3) vs OTT (6) : Fresh matchup, TBL likely wins.

- CAR (4) vs FLA (5) : Fresh matchup, the eternal pretenders are exposed much sooner and likely out in round one.


Instead:

- We had the lopsided EDM vs LAK matchup for the thirteenth time in a row.
- Two legit contenders facing off in round 1 (x2) in TBL vs FLA and DAL vs COL.
- A brutal team like the Canes sneaking into the conference finals.
Etc. Etc.

Why is the league hell bent on this terrible format? And why is there not more noise about it among execs, media and fans?

If divisions don't matter, change the regular season schedule and the standings look a bit different.

 

[NYRnine94]

I think you should forward your resume to an nhl team.

People cry and want to change the format because Florida is beating everybody. That isn't happening so the next thing is to get better as a team and beat them. Why do things need to change because other teams are getting dominated?

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

People cry and want to change the format because Florida is beating everybody. That isn't happening so the next thing is to get better as a team and beat them. Why do things need to change because other teams are getting dominated?

Why did things change from 1 to 8 playoff seeding to what is now divisional playoffs?

 

[NYRnine94]

Why did things change from 1 to 8 playoff seeding to what is now divisional playoffs?

Ask Bettman

 

[Booker T]

Why did things change from 1 to 8 playoff seeding to what is now divisional playoffs?

Guess.

 

[voxel]

Ask Bettman

Save bucks on travel and keep TV schedules consistent is my guess.

 

[Puikiou]

I can almost hear the whinging and heavy breathing while you typed this out.

Trying to have a legitimate/intelligent conversation here.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

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.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Ask Bettman

Bettman was the one who brought in 1-8 in the first place because he had that when he was in the NBA.

Divisional playoffs have traditionally been the format with the NHL before 1-8.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Save bucks on travel and keep TV schedules consistent is my guess.

That and try to build rivalries. Not for everyone, I Suppose. I wouldn't mind them playing more divisional games in the regular season, but some fans need to see Crosby or McDavid in town every year.

 

[Booker T]

Trying to have a legitimate/intelligent conversation here.

View attachment 1041764

You have to beat the team in front of you, regardless of who it is and who they played. The format has changed many times throughout the history of the game. This is not an intelligent conversation.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

during playoffs should be 1v16 2v15 etc.

So dumb so have a western and eastern team for the finals , people want the best.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

during playoffs should be 1v16 2v15 etc.

So dumb so have a western and eastern team for the finals , people want the best.

If we don't care about travel, we should play the same number of games vs. every team in the regular season. 31 other teams, play each 3 times, 93 game regular season, listen to fans bitch about travel schedules being unfair.

 

[T REX]

If divisions don't matter, change the regular season schedule and the standings look a bit different.

I do not understand this comment. Divisions do matter. Top two get auto bids then go by record.

This internal match up thing is stupid. The metro sucks and has for years.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

I do not understand this comment. Divisions do matter. Top two get auto bids then go by record.

This internal match up thing is stupid. The metro sucks and has for years.

The original post in the thread I'm responding in said nothing about auto bids. I think you are responding in the same thread .

 

[Puckstop40]

Never liked it from the beginning. Needs to be 1-8 again.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Tampa and Colorado werent true contenders tho.