Playoff Seeding Format

[Erick Estrada]

While this 2nd round has fantastic matchups from a fan point of view it's pretty ridiculous the top 2 teams in each conference have no chance of facing each other in the conference finals. Basically 2 of the to 4 overall teams in the league cannot get past round 2 because of this setup which is silly.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

While this 2nd round has fantastic matchups from a fan point of view it's pretty ridiculous the top 2 teams in each conference have no chance of facing each other in the conference finals. Basically 2 of the to 4 overall teams in the league cannot get past round 2 because of this setup which is silly.

I could easily make the argument that these 8 teams still standing are tied for the best team in the league. Because of the scheduling and that some teams have a few dogs they get to kick around a few extra times a year, the presidents trophy isn't exactly the best indicator of the best team in the league. I personally love the format because it is a playoff format that follows how the teams are scheduled during the regular season.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don't like the current format but I don't see any scenario where it gets changed. The NHL likes the matchups it creates and they like the predictable bracket set up.

This is $$ over logic.

[Macindoc]

Three things:

First, the current format encourages geographic rivalries. This elevates the level of play because everyone is more emotionally involved. The matchups that we would have had in the first round under the old format were hardly compelling, while we had some great matchups in both rounds with the current format.

Second, you usually have to go through the good teams to win it all anyway, and isn't it fairer to do so when everyone is reasonably healthy?

Third, if you get a matchup of two strong teams in the earlier rounds under the current format, is that necessarily a bad thing? If one of them was upset in an earlier round, they never would have met and the opportunity to have that great matchup would have been lost.

[jlh2640]

I hate it and it’s time to go back to the other system.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

I hate it and it’s time to go back to the other system.

Why?

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

Three things:

First, the current format encourages geographic rivalries. This elevates the level of play because everyone is more emotionally involved. The matchups that we would have had in the first round under the old format were hardly compelling, while we had some great matchups in both rounds with the current format.

Second, you usually have to go through the good teams to win it all anyway, and isn't it fairer to do so when everyone is reasonably healthy?

Third, if you get a matchup of two strong teams in the earlier rounds under the current format, is that necessarily a bad thing? If one of them was upset in an earlier round, they never would have met and the opportunity to have that great matchup would have been lost.

Some geographic rivalries are encouraging, but not all and it doesn't always increase emotion. Some matchups of the previous format in the 1st round were definitely compelling such as Bhawks-Canucks.

Teams are reasonably healthy or not at anytime, what do you mean by it being fair? Having a strong team being upset in an earlier round (1st or 2nd losing to 7th or 8th) is not a bad thing either.