McKenzie: GMs would support "Play in" concept for Wild Card

[codynw]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

The NHL needs to decrease the amount of playoff spots, not increase them.

No they don't. It's perfectly fine the way it is.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What if the team in the final wild card spot is 10 points ahead of the next closest?

Is it fair that if they lose one game, they're out of the playoffs?

And those games would be absolute goon fests with teams trying to claw their way into the dance. Imagine if you star player or integral piece got injured during this 3 gamer?

"We made it into the playoffs, now call up the farm so we can make a run".

If it ain't broke.. Stop trying g to break it !!!

[topfiverecords]

I propose that at the end of the regular season the two teams with the most points play each other. Winner gets a silver cup.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

The NHL needs to decrease the amount of playoff spots, not increase them.

The number of playoff spots will not change. It will be eight teams per conference in the playoffs until the NHL contracts to eight teams per conference total.

[troutman]

Or, a tournament among the 14 non-playoff teams for draft seeding.

Even more gates and $, and every team has something to play for every year.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by troutman

Or, a tournament among the 14 non-playoff teams for draft seeding.

Even more gates and $, and every team has something to play for every year.

Neat in theory, probably won't work. Doubt players would get up to play a tournament for draft seeding.

[Vulcan]

I don't care much how they do it but it sounds like a gimmick to me.

[saillias]

I hate every idea the NHL is coming up with these days

[Gaudfather]

If it ain't broke - don't fix it!

[Bingo]

Anyone else concerned about the one GM?

Of the 28 GMs who responded, 16 answered Yes.

Eleven GMs answered No.

And one guy either didn't understand the question or can't make a decision to save his life. My money's on Kevin Cheveldayoff!

[FBI]

do not like

[mrkajz44]

Seems like they are trying to copy the baseball wild card play-in idea. The reason it works in baseball is because only four teams make the postseason in each league (conference); the 3 division winners, plus the wild card. So it forces team to focus on winning their division, lest they be bounced in a wild card play in match between #4 and #5 in the league at the end of the season.

I still think football has got the perfect system. Top two teams get a bye, and the first round is 3v6 and 4v5. Re-seeding occurs after the first round and then you are left with 4 per side. It forces teams to play for 1 and 2 in the conference, but still gives the 5 and 6 teams good chances at a run through the playoffs as they don't get matched up with the best teams in round one.

[Jason14h]

Is it fair that if they lose one game, they're out of the playoffs?

Like in Baseball?

This isn't a new concept. Baseball plays twice the amount of games, and the 2 wild card teams have a play in.

The last wild card team is most likely never going to be way ahead in the standings. With loser points and what not, is a team finishing in 8th actually any better then then team in 9th? It could have came down to schedule or 1 bad bounce.

The excitement and suspense of this game would be fantastic. I am not sure why everyone is so against it.

[K1LLswitch]

The 14 teams missing the playoffs should have a tournament to avoid relegation. The loser of each game goes on to the next round. This continues until the final round where the oilers lose and are relegated to the AHL.

[TheOnlyBilko]

I'm for it whenever the Flames are that last team on the out looking in. I'm totally against it though if the Flames are the last wildcard holding team.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Like in Baseball?

This isn't a new concept. Baseball plays twice the amount of games, and the 2 wild card teams have a play in.

The last wild card team is most likely never going to be way ahead in the standings. With loser points and what not, is a team finishing in 8th actually any better then then team in 9th? It could have came down to schedule or 1 bad bounce.

The excitement and suspense of this game would be fantastic. I am not sure why everyone is so against it.

I think it works well in baseball. It makes winning the division much more important than it was and keeps more teams in the race until the end.

I disagree that it would cheapen the regular season, in fact I think it would do the opposite. It puts a lot more pressure on the teams to get a top 6 spot and avoid the playoff game.

I wish they could do this and use the fact that more teams will make the playoffs to ditch the OTL. An expanded playoff field would lessen the chances that shootout records could know a team out of the playoffs.

[SebC]

I'm not even sure if a bye is an advantage in hockey. Momentum and all that.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Anyone else concerned about the one GM?



And one guy either didn't understand the question or can't make a decision to save his life. My money's on Kevin Cheveldayoff!

Wouldn't surprise me. And if this format existed last year, the Jets would have lost to the Kings in a one-game playoff. And the Kings would have probably won the Stanley Cup.

[Wormius]

Do those results correlate directly with those teams in wild card spot and the next team down? I can see other GMs not caring, but if you are already in the wild card spot, why would you agree? If you were a point or two back, why would you disagree? Every other team I can imagine responding from a "sure, who cares?" perspective.

That said, I wouldn't mind a mini-round robin tournament with the bottom to determine which gets the last spot. At least each city can have a bit of fun and possibly stimulate the local economies if the team advances at all.

[thefoss1957]

The mere fact that less that half the teams are eliminated after an 82 game schedule, is bad enough. Expanding the playoff pool by two teams, even for ONE GAME, is just a straight cash grab gimmick.