Should the NHL do away with the divisional playoff format?

[thedddd]

Should go back to seeding conferences.

But I want new conferences. North and South. Canadian teams plus Detroit, Chicago, Boston, New York Rangers and Arizona in the north conference. The rest in the south. Top 8 in each make the playoffs.

Isn't that like Detroit in the Atlantic?

 

[thedddd]

No conferences, go back to 21 teams and seed them 1 through 16. And bring back ties. And real division names.

Lets go back to 22:
1991–92 San Jose Sharks season - Wikipedia

 

[puckhead]

Isn't that like Detroit in the Atlantic?

meh, Canucks were in the Eastern Division for 4 years

 

[thedddd]

meh, Canucks were in the Eastern Division for 4 years

Oh yeah that is a good one.

Just think since Bettman wants to run the NHL like the NFL when his London team gets created he will make sure there is a home and home series with the Canucks.

 

[BGDave]

Isn't that like Detroit in the Atlantic?

When I saw the original "Arizona in the North" comment, I figured the poster presumed a move to Quebec.

Many people think Detroit would be best served by being moved to the Atlantic. Preferably at least 100 miles offshore.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

good times

I prefer dis:

 

[BGDave]

I prefer dis:

Good times.

 

[tducey]

Option 3 for me. Should have top 4 teams in each division make the playoffs and no wild card. I expect them to tweak it when they expand to 32 teams.

 

[forty_three]

Food for thought, under the " old way" of 2 division winners top 2 seeds, and 1 plays 8, East matchups as of today are:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pittsburgh Vs Toronto
Columbus Vs Ottawa

Current format:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pitt Vs Columbus
Ottawa Vs TO





West, old way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Lou
Anaheim Vs Edmonton

New way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Louis
Anaheim vs Edmonton


wait....

 

[obxyankeefan]

Add a team somewhere in Canada.

Then make conference 1 the 8 Canadian teams. Set up the other 3 conferences by geography. Top 4 in each conference make the playoffs and have to fight their way out of the conference to get to the last 2 rounds. Have the 3 US conferences rotate each year as to which one plays the Canadian conference in the 3rd round.

Just my thoughts.




And if you can't guess I preferred the old 80's style of playoff format.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Food for thought, under the " old way" of 2 division winners top 2 seeds, and 1 plays 8, East matchups as of today are:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pittsburgh Vs Toronto
Columbus Vs Ottawa

Current format:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pitt Vs Columbus
Ottawa Vs TO





West, old way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Lou
Anaheim Vs Edmonton

New way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Louis
Anaheim vs Edmonton


wait....

I think it's pretty clear what this is...a multi-year conspiracy by the league to give Toronto a chance to play in the second round of the playoffs.

Well played NHL. Well played.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Should go back to seeding conferences.

But I want new conferences. North and South. Canadian teams plus Detroit, Chicago, Boston, New York Rangers and Arizona in the north conference. The rest in the south. Top 8 in each make the playoffs.

Uhhh no

 

[RangersReds03]

Food for thought, under the " old way" of 2 division winners top 2 seeds, and 1 plays 8, East matchups as of today are:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pittsburgh Vs Toronto
Columbus Vs Ottawa

Current format:
Washington Vs Boston
Montreal Vs NYR
Pitt Vs Columbus
Ottawa Vs TO





West, old way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Lou
Anaheim Vs Edmonton

New way:
CHI Vs NSH
SJ Vs Calgary
MIN Vs St Louis
Anaheim vs Edmonton


wait....

How would the Rangers be the 7 seed under the old system?

 

[obxyankeefan]

How would the Rangers be the 7 seed under the old system?

Toronto would be the 7th seed. The Rangers would be the 4th and playing Montreal the 5th.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Toronto would be the 7th seed. The Rangers would be the 4th and playing Montreal the 5th.

Nope. Montreal would be seeded as the division winner. 43 just forgot to seed Montreal. Updated for today:

Washington-Boston
Montreal-Toronto
Columbus-Ottawa
Pittsburgh-NY Rangers

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Nope. Montreal would be seeded as the division winner. 43 just forgot to seed Montreal. Updated for today:

Washington-Boston
Montreal-Toronto
Columbus-Ottawa
Pittsburgh-NY Rangers

I also worded this wrong. But that is indeed the correct matchups today lol.

 

[forty_three]

How would the Rangers be the 7 seed under the old system?

Through a series of complicated scenarios where the bottom line is I goofed.

I had it sorted on Divisional/wild card standings, not conference.

 

[BGDave]

I think it's pretty clear what this is...a multi-decade conspiracy by the league to give Toronto a chance to play in the second round of the playoffs.

Well played NHL. Well played.

fify

 

[elocomotive]

Man, this year is evidence of change needed in the playoff format. The Habs won their division - their reward? Play a team in the other division that is better than any team in their division. The Penguins had the second best record in hockey - their reward? Play the team that has the fourth best record in hockey.

Allocating a certain number of spots per division is fine, but the way the seeding is done makes no sense and needs to change.

Pretty crazy that ZERO people voted to keep the current format. I don't think that's ever happened on these boards and it's pretty damning.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Oh yeah that is a good one.

Just think since Bettman wants to run the NHL like the NFL when his London team gets created he will make sure there is a home and home series with the Canucks.

London will be in the Pacific Division.