Playoff Seeding Format

[Philly06Cup]

Now is a good time to discuss playoff format.

Pros: Divisonal rivalries are more fun to watch than mixed up conference match ups.

Cons: Sometimes better teams get paired very early in the playoffs, while weaker teams get paired. This year, #1 overall Nashville and #2 overall Winnipeg are playing in the *second round *..

Is this trade-off worth it? Is there a better middle ground?

[Philly06Cup]

My take:

I like that the NHL is trying new things. I like increased divisional rivalries. People who endlessly bash the NHL should give them some credit. The 2 wildcard format shows they are trying to balance rivalries with letting deserving teams into the playoffs.

My tweaks:

1) make the divisonal pairings only for the first round. This still gives you an amazing round one. Reseed for round 2. The most egregious match ups occur in round 2 -- this is where the change should happen. If unfair round 1 matchups happen, it is between the 2 and 3 seeds of a division -- so we can at least say it's their fault for not winning their division. if you want to get really fancy, then only reseed in the case that #1 and #2 are in the same division.

2) keep the 2 wildcard format. But, if there is one wildcard team from each division, don't cross over a team to the other division. This should be obvious. It creates more rivalries without creating a lot of disparity. If two teams from the division hold both wildcards, proceed as usual. (higher 1 seed plays lower wildcard). Right now the NHL has divisional pairings that 'crown' a 'divisional champ'. This is already broken considering that it is possible, eg, for a Pacific team to cross over and win the central division crown, and a central team to cross over and do the same.

[Northendzone]

If the jets and Nashville were not playing then someone would be playing the knights.

Some yers it will work out this way

[CaptainCrunch]

I still remembered the 1 v 16 2 v 15 and it lead to unexpected matchups.

Yeah the travel is a killer, but its better then the old days where they traveled by dog sled.

[Sainters7]

While I certainly get the critiques, I feel like the only reason this topic has been as lively as it's been in this country is because it caused Toronto to get a tough draw in round 1. Weird, because they seemed pretty cool with it in the Snorris Division years..

I like it. It helps reduce travel, creates an environment to increase rivalries, and personally has a nostalgia feel to it for me, as that was the format when I first got into hockey as a kid. The way I see it, if you want to win it all, you're going to have to beat these same teams at some point anyway. If it's in round 1/2 instead of 3, so be it.

[dissentowner]

Go back to 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc. This format is broken, a team can make miss the playoffs just because of the division they are placed in. They can finish with more points than someone else and still miss. Also there is minimal reward for regular season points as to who you end up playing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Go back to 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc. This format is broken, a team can make miss the playoffs just because of the division they are placed in. They can finish with more points than someone else and still miss. Also there is minimal reward for regular season points as to who you end up playing.

There is a wildcard to alleviate that. Has there been even one team left out that had more points than a team that got in, since this format was introduced?

As for reward, I think if you look at it, there is very little difference in the quality of matchups, compared to 1 vs 8.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

While I certainly get the critiques, I feel like the only reason this topic has been as lively as it's been in this country is because it caused Toronto to get a tough draw in round 1.

The funny thing about this is that with a Conference playoff alignment, the Leafs would have lost to the Penguins in the first round.

[Enoch Root]

The top 6 teams during the regular season, long with the defending cup champs, are in the final 8. When was the last time that happened?

What a bizarre year to be bringing this up. And like others have said, if it wasn't for the Leafs, there is no way this is a discussion this year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by getbak

The funny thing about this is that with a Conference playoff alignment, the Leafs would have lost to the Penguins in the first round.

And if it was a 1 vs 16 format they would have lost to the Penguins as well.

[Fire]

It's perfect the way it is.

[Huntingwhale]

Would much prefer 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15 etc format. Let's get some new rivalries and series going. How cool would a Caps vs Sharks series be? Or Bruins vs Kings? It's boring to see the same series over and over again. Round 1 this season would have been must more exciting with some new blood IMO

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The top 6 teams during the regular season, long with the defending cup champs, are in the final 8. When was the last time that happened?

What a bizarre year to be bringing this up. And like others have said, if it wasn't for the Leafs, there is no way this is a discussion this year.

I don’t think it has much to do with the leafs.

It’s more the fact that the top 2 teams in the west and top 2 teams in the east are playing in round 2 instead of round 3.

[Philly06Cup]

Athletic had a good article listing all the unfair matchups since inception.

One year Pittsburgh (#2 overall) plays Columbus (#4 overall) in round one. In round two, Pittsburgh plays Washington (#1 overall). This ended up screwing Washington over, and contributed to tarnishing Columbus / Washington / ovechkin's reputation as early round chokers.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Fire

It's perfect the way it is.

I think the top team should be allowed to pick which Wild Card team they play or defer to the number 2 team who would then be forced to decide.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I think the top team should be allowed to pick which Wild Card team they play or defer to the number 2 team who would then be forced to decide.

This should be a feature of winning the president's trophy.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

And if it was a 1 vs 16 format they would have lost to the Penguins as well.

Ha-ha so confident in yourself.

I'd say the Leafs lineup a lot better against the Pens than the Bruins.

I think the big difference is the Leafs get home advantage in both those situations. Leafs were a very good home team. A 105 point season should at least get you home advantage in the first round.

[GGG]

No reseeding after a playoff round is important for brackets, pools and gambling. These things makes sports more fun.

Rivalries where bad blood occurs year after year is great. Random matchups between teams that have played twice in the year in round 1 are not fun.

The higher probability of caps vs pens, Leafs vs Hans, Bos vs leafs, Chi vs Det in the playoffs the better. Though we still won't get to see a BOA in the playoffs as E=NG.

The one tweak I would make is only have a crossover for the wild card team if the 5th place team in one division is better than the 4th in the other. This way if two fourth place teams make it they stay in conference.

The other that would be kind of interesting would be to make the 4 wild cards interconferance where if the 5th place team in any division is better than the 4th place team in any division the 5th place team makes it. Though that would create a travel penalty for the best team in that division

Also there is only one winner in the playoffs so more better series is better than perfectly "fair"

[GGG]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

Ha-ha so confident in yourself.

I'd say the Leafs lineup a lot better against the Pens than the Bruins.

I think the big difference is the Leafs get home advantage in both those situations. Leafs were a very good home team. A 105 point season should at least get you home advantage in the first round.

If you take away games against the ####ty bottom 5 teams in their division for all of the league does their record still hold up? Were they penalized for being in a top heavy division or did they rack up points off buffalo?

[Rtown]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

While I certainly get the critiques, I feel like the only reason this topic has been as lively as it's been in this country is because it caused Toronto to get a tough draw in round 1. Weird, because they seemed pretty cool with it in the Snorris Division years..

I like it. It helps reduce travel, creates an environment to increase rivalries, and personally has a nostalgia feel to it for me, as that was the format when I first got into hockey as a kid. The way I see it, if you want to win it all, you're going to have to beat these same teams at some point anyway. If it's in round 1/2 instead of 3, so be it.

I get the "to be the best you hafta beat the best" argurment and agree with it, but where I think it's flawed is as someone else pointed out, 3rd place in the conference should net you home ice advantage.
Do I think the Leafs would have beat the Penguins? Not necessarily but a 105 point team should have had the chance to host game 7.
The other factor to consider is revenue. Not that the Leafs need it but imagine that Florida or Carolina finished 3rd in the Conference. You don't think that their coffers couldn't use the revenue from a 4th home playoff game? Even if they lose game 7 that's a fair bit of scratch for the team's bottom line.