[Tiger]

A lot of talk about the playoff set up is flawed. Mainly it is because it affects Toronto this year. but is it really a huge deal.

EAST is currently (april 5th)
Lightning - Bluejackets
Capitals - hurricanes
Islanders - Penguins
Bruins - Leafs

If it was 1 vs 8 etc.
Lightning - bluejackets
Bruins - Hurricanes
Capitals - penguins
Islanders - Leafs

WEST is
Flames - Avs
Preds - Stars
Jets - Blues
Sharks - Knights

1 vs 8 etc
flames - Avs
Sharks - stars
Preds - knights
Jets - Blues

1 vs 16 is
Lightning vs Stars
Flames vs knights
Bruins vs canadians
Capitals vs bluejackets
Islanders vs blues
leafs vs hurricanes
Sharks vs jets
penguins vs Preds


Really I think the 1 vs 8 set up is really not that different than the way it is now. I personally like the rivalries of the system now making the first two rounds more interesting. In the later rounds, it is interesting no matter the teams playing. the 1 vs 16 set up people want make no sense to me (random, crazy travel etc).

another point (that is not mine) is that using a 1 vs 8 set up, if you re-seed in the next round you cannot do brackets and may effect betting money coming in.

I personally would want some changes but more like the late 80s early 90s with a twist.
I would want no wild cards. each division gets a 1-4 in it, but have a CFL type crossover where if the 5th place team in one division is better than the fourth, they take there spot. That way, if say this year if a Pacific division team was WC1 and a central was WC2 the flames would still play there division rather than a crossover (not the case this season at all anyways, but just a minor change to double down even more on the first round rivals).

A complaint about this system is you see the same teams over and over again, but that can happen anyways (ie dallas/edmonton)

I just find it is better for rivalry in the first two round rather than hoping for a good matchup that may not happen in the later rounds.

What are everybody's else's thoughts, I want to know why this system seems to be so hated.