Going back about 90 years, this will be only the 4th season where 50% or fewer teams qualify for the playoffs in the NHL.
The NBA system is actually great. It gives real incentive for teams to fight into the top 6, and keeps more teams in the hunt, even if it will be an uphill battle through the play-in. TDL is the lamest reason to not expand the playoffs...it's an overhyped day that rarely pays off in the short or long term. And there would still be plenty of action...currently teams just outside the bubble don't tend to sell, anyways.
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