New Format Still Sucks

[Neely2005]

The current playoff format sucks. Go back to 1 vs. 8 so that finishing higher actually means something.

 

[BigVegas17]

This should be retitled "I am indifferent to - or a fan of - the playoff format until it's a season where it appears to make things harder for the team that I root for"...

 

[Fire Benning]

Yep. Toronto finishes with 105 and starts on the road in the playoffs.

 

[Dont Toews Me Bro]

I preferred 1-8, but this format is fine.

Kind of how I feel IMHO honest opinion. This format is a step back but it does tolerable and there's no use complaining about it as the league won't be changing it

 

[Maple Leaf]

We should complain more
Then they might change it
GO BACK!

 

[x Tame Impala]

There are pro's and con's to each format and I haven't been particularly bothered by the seeding of either. Generally you have to beat great teams to win the Cup regardless.

HOWEVER, the start times of some of these games has been ridiculous. The Chicago Blackhawks should not have had home games in round 1 start at 8:30pm CST the last two years. It's almost an 8:45 puck drop. One of the benefits of the new format allegedly was to minimize Western Conference teams having to fly across the country every other night in the first 2 rounds and have the susbsequent discrepancies in fan viewing times be less drastic i.e. Detroit/Nashville v Anaheim round 1.

I haven't checked the playoff schedule this year but hopefully that's fixed.

 

[HockeyAnalystGenius]

New Format + Salary Cap = Death of Playoff Excitement

 

[KINGS17]

I can't even remember honestly. But, With the old 1-8 format, was it reseeded or a winner of one series played winner of another series regardless of seeding?

Should be 1-8 and then reseeded.

Reseeded

 

[MOGlLNY]

Your matchups were it 1-8:

BOS/TB vs NJD
BOS/TB vs CBJ
WAS vs PHI
TOR vs PIT

NASH vs COL
WPG vs LA
VGK vs SJ
MIN vs ANA

I'd venture to guess division winners still get the top seeds if they changed. It would still be VGK vs LA.

 

[Rich Nixon]

I'd venture to guess division winners still get the top seeds if they changed. It would still be VGK vs LA.

You're right, kinda throws you off coming from the old system where there were 2 more divisions.

 

[Not So Mighty]

Except for the Stanley Cup Finals

I strongly disagree. The first round is my favorite time of the entire year, hands down. Several massive hockey games every single day. I live for these next two weeks.

 

[Shrimper]

I have an issue with the league points scoring as well. Teams shouldn't be qualifying for the play-off with fewer wins than those outside. If that is the scoring system then your league needs to fix it.

 

[NewSNESJersey]

Yep. Toronto finishes with 105 and starts on the road in the playoffs.

2007 Wild had 104 points and started on the road
2007 Penguins had 105 points and started on the road.
2007 Stars had 107 points and started on the road.
2007 Sharks had 107 points and started on the road.

What's your point?

 

[rent free]

I can't even remember honestly. But, With the old 1-8 format, was it reseeded or a winner of one series played winner of another series regardless of seeding?

Should be 1-8 and then reseeded.

It was re seeded.

 

[MoreOrr]

Yes, I agree with the title. BUT, really, could there be many better matchups than this year's Regular Season has produced for the 1st Round of the Playoffs?? Wow, it looks exciting just viewing the matchups on screen.

I'm particularly glad for Nashville that winning the PT didn't end up meaning they had to play a PTZ team in the 1st Round.

 

[Dr Pepper]

It makes zero sense. Of the top three teams in the East, one is guaranteed an early exit.

That shouldn't happen.

 

[Jason316]

It makes zero sense. Of the top three teams in the East, one is guaranteed an early exit.

That shouldn't happen.

You must get past your division like the good old days

 

[LCPreds]

I'm particularly glad for Nashville that winning the PT didn't end up meaning they had to play a PTZ team in the 1st Round.

This was a legit concern. Talk about a massive reward for winning PT. Here’s your trophy, now please enjoy your wild card road trip to California.

 

[MoreOrr]

It makes zero sense. Of the top three teams in the East, one is guaranteed an early exit.

That shouldn't happen.

None of them necessarily need to exit in the 1st Round. There can only be two of them left in the Conference Final (as always). So I guess you're complaining about at least one having to exit in the 2nd Round, but how the hell else could it be??

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Meanwhile at NHL HQ...

 

[Dr Pepper]

None of them necessarily need to exit in the 1st Round. There can only be two of them left in the Conference Final (as always). So I guess you're complaining about at least one having to exit in the 2nd Round, but how the hell else could it be??

Really?

As the top 3 seeds, under the old rules they'd all have home ice advantage, and all have a chance of advancing to round two.

Again, under these new rules one of them will be going home early while an inferior team is guaranteed to advance.

 

[MoreOrr]

Really?

As 3nof the top 3 seeds, under the old rules they'd all have home ice advantage, and all have a chance of advancing to round two.

Again, under these new rules one of them will be going home early while an inferior team is guaranteed to advance.

Now you're talking Home Ice advantage... There I agree with you. But that's not what you referred to in the previous post.

 

[illpucks]

1 vs 8 or 1 vs 16 please

Why does Penguins have easier matchup than Boston?

Boston has way more points and have harder matchup that they might lose.

 

[Pens x]

The annual crybaby thread...

 

[Pens x]

1 vs 8 or 1 vs 16 please

Why does Penguins have easier matchup than Boston?

Boston has way more points and have harder matchup that they might lose.

Maybe you should be upset at the Bruins for pissing away a golden opportunity tonight to win the division more so than the playoff format. If the Bruins won you wouldn’t be yapping.