New Playoff format?

[lmanchur.]

(the idea for this thread was trigged by the previous thread of "lack of talent?" by Wedge231.)

This is pretty sad: one of the teams in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division will finish THIRD overall in the Eastern Conference. Technically, the Hurricanes, leading this division, are ranked 9th in the Eastern Confernece with only 18 points. This is because the leaders of each of the divisions are ranked 1-2-3 in the final standings, so if they playoffs were today, the Hurricanes (18 PTS, "3rd" OV in the East) would have home ice advantage over the Pittsburgh Peguins (23 PTS, 6th OV in East).

To elimate this disaster of allowing non-qualified teams to the playoffs, should the NHL change its playoff system? I think an MLB-type system would work amazingly in the NHL, with each of the 3 division leaders in each confernece making the playoffs, and then having a 4th "wild card" team (best team not a division leader) make the playoffs... wait a minute -- I contradicted myself, because then the Hurricanes would still be in the playoffs... maybe the top 4 overall in each confernece? Or does anyone really like the current playoff system???

[Wedge231]

I agree but the MLB system also has flaws. Looks to be alot better than the current system however.

[Marc]

No system is perfect, and I really don't see a problem with the current NHL system. True, a team from the dreadful Southeast division will make it, but that division shouldn't be counted out, as they will be good eventually!

[Colin M.]

The playoff format is not without its flaws but I think this is the best possible system. If you had a system where it was possible for a division not to send any teams to the playoffs then it would be pointless to have divisions. I wouldn't want to scrap division because the divisions help create rivalries.

[lmanchur.]

Colin M., on behalf of myslef, the moderator, all the guests here at the hockey forum, and SportsCentral, welcome to SC's discussion boards on the WWW!

...has someone been referring all these people!... we've had quite a few new faces the past few days!... if someone has, speak up because I would like you to be congratulated!

True... the divisions help create the schedule to ensure there are more games versus teams in your division rather than other teams in other divisions within your conference and the other conference all together...

...but I'm not really a fan of the current system, and think the NHL should look into another format.


With that said, I see only a few good reasons with the current system:

1. More $$$$ for playoff teams... usually the 7th & 8th seeded teams need this (e.g.: san jose, pittsburgh, calgary if they can make it)
2. It gives the opportunity for great heroes to rise (e.g.: last year with San Jose)

[Edited by SC-Lee on 12-28-2000 at 05:42 PM]

[Colin M.]

SC-Lee I found out about this place through the thread you started over on the hockeyboards BBQ. As I outlined in a lengthy post I agree with most of your sentiments.

As far as the playoff format goes, perhaps the best change that could be made would be to go back to having 4 divisions where the top team in each division is seeded first and second. This way finishing first in your division would still mean something and it would reduce the risk that a really bad team would have the 3rd seed and as a result home ice in the first round. I know that this would mean having 7 or 8 team divisions but like I said earlier no system is perfect.

I think the best playoff format in all of sports is the NFL's system where the division winners each make the playoffs as well as 3 wild card teams. This way making the playoffs are an accomplishment by itself and the 2 best teams in the conference are given a greater reward - that being a by in the first round. I don't think this system would work in the NHL. The league is too dependant on gate reciepts and this system would reduce the incoming revenue from the playoffs. I also think that a two week layoff can be counter productive in a league like the NHL where teams are used to playing 3 games a week than it is in the NFL were teams only play 1 game a week.

[sully2001]

I think an NBA-style playoff is the best format for the NHL. It's simple, two divisions per conference instead of three. The divisions winners are the top two seeds (with seven or eight teams in a division instead of four or five, you know a legitimately fine team will finish on top) and three through eight are seeded by record. You wouldn't have to change the sched that much either. Problem solved. Now if they could only wrap up by June 1st...