So ive been seeing a couple of people complaining about the playoff format.
For those that dont know. The NHL is 32 teams. 16 in each conference. 8 in each division.
Since 2014.
Top 3 of each division make the playoffs. With 2 wild card from each conference.
The seeding however is what comes into question.
Each division has its own quadrant. so 1st in division is 1. 2nd in division is 2. 3rd is 3. Where the 4th is one of the wild card teams. Where the highest 1 seed gets the lower wild card team.
Thats what people have an issue with. Especially in the West this year. Because current in the central projected is
1 COL 121pts
2 DAL 114pts
3 MIN 106pts
4 UTA 92pts
Where the pacific
1 ANA 96pts
2 VGK 90pts
3 EDM 89pts
4 LAK 86pts
Meaning Minnesota with 106pts will be a road team. And vegas with 90pts will be a home team.
Virtually making Minnesota a â6 seedâ instead of 3rd. And Vegas a 3 seed instead of 6.
But so what. The only difference it makes is the first 2 rounds for 2 matches.
Currently Minnesota would play Dallas in the first round.
If they seeded simply 1-8 Dallas and Minnesota would have an easier game round 1. But they would still meet eachother round 2. So it makes no major difference when you get to the Divisional round.
The NHL playoffs is the most competitive and balanced in the 4 major sports. Id rather have more balanced and divisionally based playoffs.
Top 4 from each division in their own brackets
Winners from each division bracket play each other in the conference finals.
Cup is played by the two conference winners.
Wild cards are stupid in every sport. Focus on divisional play to create intense rivalries. More in-season games against divisional opponents, more divisional playoff series. I want these guys to hate each other.
And if you really want a âwild cardâ, just make the 4th spot in each division a play-in game between the 4th and 5th place team in a division. Start the NHL playoffs off with a bang.
Thats why i like the current format. Happy median. I would have to look how many years where wild cards came from the dame division.
I guess this year if the Islanders dont make it you would have 5 from the Atlantic and 3 from Metro.
That and keep the wild cards in their division.
Simply just high lighting the fights at 3-5 in the division for the playoffs.
Vs the fights 6-10 in the conference
Again not a major difference, but i like it.
The issue i have with that tho is it would punish good teams in good divisions. You could have a team make the playoffs with 80 points but they are thr 4th best. And a team with 95pts is out because they are 5th
In the NFL, with an 8 team division, youâd play the other 7 teams once, and then maybe two or three twice. And rotate who you play twice year after year. So half your games would be in-division, andother 3 outside the conference, and the rest would be outside your division based on the place you finished the previous year like today.
Happens almost every year in the NFL. Weâve seen teams with a losing record (or 8-8) win a division and get a 4 seed while a 13 win team has to travel. Thereâs never a perfect scenario.
Iâve noticed that youâve used a screen shot a couple of times to quote. The quote functionality is still there, you just have to slide the top menu to the right to get to the little âplusâ drop-down:
Alternatively, you can select a portion of, or the entire post you want to quote, and a little menu will pop up that will allow you to use that in a quote response.
Thank you sir but it doesnât seem to work on my iPhone. If I post from my iPad then it works then. But Iâve been having issues quoting post on my phone. But thanks for you help brother!
You were? I mean when does the NHL have a sub .500 winner of a division and gets home ice advantage?? When does a NHL team win 13 games and plays on the road in the playoffs?? You were not referencing the NHLâŚyou literally responded to an NFL format but you were talking about the NHL?? Come on manâŚ
