The current playoffs format is BROKEN

[Machinehead]

Now we're talking. But every format is subject to being flawed because there's one thing they all have in common. They all, for whatever reason, necessitate the playing of actual games.

Every format is subject to being flawed but some more than others. The biggest flaw with this format is that it's repetitive. It's repetitive by design. If the repetition is not doing the one thing it's supposed to do, then why not move to a less repetitive format?

 

[Machinehead]

Isn’t it already?
This current system has 1-8 and 2-7.
The Conferences don't play a balanced schedule between the divisions, so to get a true 1-8, 2-7, and so on that would need to change and then there’s no point in having divisions.

There isn't any point in having divisions.

 

[stealth1]

But it hasn't done that. I don't know one neutral fan who's changing their plans to watch an Oilers-Kings game.

A lot of that IMO is due to the players now. Back in the 80s and 90s, guys hated each other. You had scrums and fights a lot more than you do now. Today the players are friends off the ice and train together a lot.

 

[Fatass]

There isn't any point in having divisions.

What about travel impacting standings more as it increases, especially for certain Western Conference teams?
IMO the current system with 1-8 and 2-7 (with 2-3 and 2-3 in division) is a hybrid of divisions and Conference only that takes into account many factors.

 

[Machinehead]

What about travel impacting standings more as it increases, especially for certain Western Conference teams?
IMO the current system with 1-8 and 2-7 (with 2-3 and 2-3 in division) is a hybrid of divisions and Conference only that takes into account many factors.

You can make the schedule based on divisions and the playoff seeding based on conferences.

The marginal differences in the schedule aren't that important.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

You can make the schedule based on divisions and the playoff seeding based on conferences.

The marginal differences in the schedule aren't that important.

They're going to be at some point, to someone.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The NFL is split the same way as MLB. Why? Because it was a merging of two leagues in each case, with teams in both spread out over the country. The NHL and NBA both absorbed teams from a rival league. Chicago is even in the Eastern conference in the NBA.

NFL plays once a week.
MLB plays 3-4 games in one city, before moving on.

 

[Machinehead]

They're going to be at some point, to someone.

We're holding alternatives to the scrutiny of perfection here.

A flawed system can still be much better than a different flawed system.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

We're holding alternatives to the scrutiny of perfection here.

A flawed system can still be much better than a different flawed system.

Indeed. I'm just more preparing for someone being unhappy with how stuff shakes out in the real world no matter what. I'm sure the answer is "I don't care" but I'm not sure what to do with that next time around when a different someone cares and a different someone doesn't.

 

[Jason316]

It's terrible format. I'm surprised that GMs of teams eliminated due to this atrocity didn't raise their voices in off-season. It should be back to 1-8 with re-seeding each round long time ago. The funny thing is they did the good format in the bubble, then they want back to this atrocity.

F that

1 vs 8 was the NBA model Bettman copied

#NeverAgain

 

[AM]

Should be 1-16 and etc.

Worrying about travel is just penny wise pound foolish.

And a huge advantage for the eastern conference.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Go back to 1 vs 8. If you're the top seed in the conference you should be rewarded by playing the 8th seed who barely squeaked in.

Instead we get a favorite like Colorado out in the 1st round.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Go back to 1 vs 8. If you're the top seed in the conference you should be rewarded by playing the 8th seed who barely squeaked in.

Instead we get a favorite like Colorado out in the 1st round.

The number 1 seed currently plays the #8 seed.

 

[Rebels57]

Everyone wants 1-8 except for the Owners. I don't understand it.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Everyone wants 1-8 except for the Owners. I don't understand it.

And also apparently the players, if the players were vocal about it, maybe becomes a discussion point. We haven’t got there yet.

 

[Summer Rose]

There isn't any point in having divisions.

I'd say they make at least some semblance of sense for the west, which covers three time zones. For the east, with all 16 teams in the same time zone? Not nearly as much. If the point is to minimize travel, they failed to do that optimally with the current groupings of the east.

 

[johnnybbadd]

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 Arizona east as a relocation candidate for a decade until they became good. Now it’s such a hot spot that nobody can compete with them and give up? Hahahahaha

 

[thegazelle]

The NHL may want to have rivalries, but those just happen organically; they aren't created, like what this format is trying to target

 

[KingsFan7824]

NFL plays once a week.
MLB plays 3-4 games in one city, before moving on.

And the NFL still has the same east, central, west style conference setup. It doesn't need it though, since it could easily put Seattle in the same division as Miami, and not miss a beat.

 

[coolboarder]

In order for the playoff format system to make sense, it requires a proper schedule matrix. The current system doesn't make any sense. If we go strictly divisional playoff bracket, we need to focus on the schedule matrix to 5-2 plus one extra game vs the division based on the final standing from the pervious year. 1v2, 3v4, 5v6, 7v8. - 84 total games. That would be requiring scrapping the conference system for there is not enough games to do two extra games within the conference so therefore we need to scrap the conference and go with conference final seeding 1-4, 2-3 match-up. 2021 semi-finals worked so well,

 

[Summer Rose]

And the NFL still has the same east, central, west style conference setup. It doesn't need it though, since it could easily put Seattle in the same division as Miami, and not miss a beat.

The divisions before the 2002 realignment were pretty funny. Two standout examples were that the Arizona Cardinals were in the NFC East (the old NFC East was the same as it is now, just with Arizona included) whereas the Atlanta Falcons were in the NFC West.

 

[D1az]

Everyone wants 1-8 except for the Owners. I don't understand it.

I'm quite convinced that most of the owners don't watch much hockey themselves.
It's an investment and they check the data, like shareholders of any company, and most of them only strictly focus on the business and how they think their margins can be at its best.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

What I don't get is the contradiction in regular season versus playoff attitudes. After 13 pages, I'd be shocked if people hadn't mentioned this already, but I'll just throw it out there anyways.

Beyond simply the league expanding, those up top have made it a priority for every team to match-up against every other team in the league at least once, if not twice, every regular season. On the other hand, I believe the maximum now for divisional games is four matchups a year. I don't understand this. I'm happy for whichever cities can support them to have an NHL team. But it doesn't do anything for me as a Bruins fan to play Seattle or Dallas or Minnesota...blah, blah, blah. I am guessing there is some justification of "fairness" going on trying not to have one team in a weak division pad its season stats by simply beating lesser teams in their division. But there's plenty of other "unfair" variables at play too that can't be gotten rid of.

On the other hand, the playoffs seem to serve as trying to enhance rivalries. So it seems like the league tries to force rivalrieis for the vast majority of the season and then actually propagates the legitime ones for a couple months at the end. Is that actually good for business? Having to listen to some talking head tell me there is a "heated rivalry" between the Bruins and (insert team in which there is no actual rivalry) during the regular season is just grating. I've been a fan for 30 years. I know there is no "feud" between the Bruins and the modern-day Red Wings. Or Rangers.

 

[Golden_Jet]

And the NFL still has the same east, central, west style conference setup. It doesn't need it though, since it could easily put Seattle in the same division as Miami, and not miss a beat.

Not really important playing once a week, and travelling only once every week or 2.
But ya they don’t really need it.

 

[joestevens29]

And also apparently the players, if the players were vocal about it, maybe becomes a discussion point. We haven’t got there yet.

The NHL won't just give things to the players though. They like to hold onto some bargaining chips.

All 32 owners could be on board with a change, but them knowing the players want the same they will sit back and see what they can get in return.