Thoughts on playoff expansion?

[CalgaryFan1988]

with expansion, it seems inevitable that eventually they will let more teams into the playoffs. Just curious as to what people think is the best way, or should it be done at all? I have read that Bettman doesn't want to change the current format.

Personally, I think the idea of allowing another team per conference into the playoffs, with the top regular season team in each conference getting a first round bye to rest up would be intriguing.

Thoughts?

[topfiverecords]

16 - 8 - 4 - 2 - 1

Doesn't need messing with.

[Propagandist]

with expansion we should just do the top 4 of each division making the playoffs.
would make for great divisional series.

[Buff]

Lame idea to make bad teams feel better.

How many teams are in MLB and how many make the playoffs?

NBA?

NFL?

NHL is right where it needs to be.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Propagandist

with expansion we should just do the top 4 of each division making the playoffs.
would make for great divisional series.

True, but what if team 3 and 4 in the Pacific had less than .500 records? What if team 5 and 6 had substantially better records than the aforementioned teams? What if the two best teams in the entire NHL came from the same division?

[CaptainCrunch]

Stick to 16 teams. Make it actually hard to make the playoffs.


Of if you're going to expand it. Then reduce the season by 20 games.

[topfiverecords]

At minimum they need to go back to 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

At minimum they need to go back to 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5.

I prefer this over constantly facing division rivals.

[Scorch]

When you let mediocre teams into the playoffs, you’re diminishing the prestige of the playoffs. A playoff spot should be something teams should work hard for and earn. Right now, more than half of the leagues teams are making it and that is imo too much.

Look at the other major leagues, they aren’t as generous for playoff spots as the NHL

[ComixZone]

Creating more playoff spots devalues those playoff spots making regular season games mean less.

Stick with 16-8-4-2-1.

Half the league making the playoffs makes a game on any given night meaningful.

[Gaskal]

16 is a good number I feel. More than half the league now makes it, but that first round can quite often be a crapshoot, and it is action packed.

Increasing # of playoff teams while keeping 4 rounds would mean highest seeds get BYE rounds. A gigantic F no to that. The four rounds of the NHL playoffs is the most gruelling postseason in professional sports and to have a team bypass one and come skipping out fresh as daisies for round 2 just ruins the spirit of it IMO.

[H2SO4(aq)]

If this were an mlb forum I’d say yes. But no, the nhl has the right number of teams.

[thefoss1957]

Even back when the league was smaller, the NHL was joked about that "over half the teams" made the playoffs. Even expanding to 32, no more than 16 should advance.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

16 - 8 - 4 - 2 - 1



Doesn't need messing with.

The simple answers are the best.

The start of the round of 16 is one of the most exciting and action packed moments in professional sports.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Wild card games diminish the value of the regular season. Non starter.

[FireGilbert]

You cannot have 9 teams in the playoffs and give first place a bye. You get 5 teams in the 2nd round, it does not work. Anyways, you do not want byes in sports with 7 game series.

The only thing I would change is having a one game playoff if teams are tied for the final playoff spot. ROW and the other tie breakers can be used to determine the home team.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

You cannot have 9 teams in the playoffs and give first place a bye. You get 5 teams in the 2nd round, it does not work. Anyways, you do not want byes in sports with 7 game series.

The only think I would change is having a one game playoff if teams are tied for the final playoff spot. ROW and the other tie breakers can be used to determine the home team.

Yeah, i should have explained myself better. Was one of those couldn't sleep, up until 130am kind of nights.

What I mean't was, teams 8 and 9 play a best of 3 game series or something while teams 1-7 get a few days extra off. Was just a thought.

If the playoff format went back to the original way, that would be fine too. I do not like the current format, at all.

[Strange Brew]

I’d like to see 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15 etc.

You could have any 2 teams in the finals which would make us different from other major NA sports.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Yeah, i should have explained myself better. Was one of those couldn't sleep, up until 130am kind of nights.

What I mean't was, teams 8 and 9 play a best of 3 game series or something while teams 1-7 get a few days extra off. Was just a thought.

If the playoff format went back to the original way, that would be fine too. I do not like the current format, at all.

No worries. Yeah you could have a playoff for the last wild card but then you get the situation where the Flames finish 8 points ahead of the Oilers but have to play them for the final spot. It just isn't fair.

By original way do you mean the previous conference seeding, the top 4 division format from the 80s, or the 16 team league playoffs prior to that? I don't hate the current format but it would be really cool to see the conferences removed and 1 vs 16 etc. in the playoffs. You keep the divisions for the regular season and still go with 3 playoff teams from each plus 4 wild cards. Then you always get the 2 best teams in the final.

[N-E-B]

16 is a good number. Expanding it just makes it so worse teams can win the cup. That’s not right.

I do like the divisional playoffs though. It builds rivalries that are desperately needed right now. The game’s becoming stale.