New Format Still Sucks

[Frank the Tank]

Once Seattle joins the league I don't think there will be conferences that make seeding 1-8 relevant.

 

[Jyrki]

I hate forced playoff rivalries, specially when one team is consistently better than the other for several seasons. Gets stale after a while.

 

[dracom]

The format is fine. exciting first round match ups is good for the sport. I will never understand the people who completely despise the new system.

 

[The Man in White]

I like it

 

[Dr Pepper]

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

I just don't like the idea that one of the top three teams gets booted while the 4th or 5th place team moves on. The top teams should be rewarded with easier opponents. Not a free pass, obviously, as we saw last season that's not always the case. But no other league has this contrived, rivalry-based matchup system that basically throws out the idea of top-vs-bottom in the first round.

 

[SavedByRoy]

I just don't like the idea that one of the top three teams gets booted while the 4th or 5th place team moves on. The top teams should be rewarded with easier opponents. Not a free pass, obviously, as we saw last season that's not always the case. But no other league has this contrived, rivalry-based matchup system that basically throws out the idea of top-vs-bottom in the first round.

Yes. The old 1-8 matchup seemed to work fine for a few decades. If only we could see Winnipeg-Nashville in the WCF and no first round games featuring 2 top 6 teams.

 

[Semantics]

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?

His point is that with 1-8 seeding the 2007 Pens and Sharks would have started at home, as would this year's Leafs.

Wild/Stars were the 5th/6th best teams in their conference that year, so that part makes sense.

 

[WolfgangPuck]

NHL is the reverse of the NBA. NBA, lots of sweeps in rounds 1 & 2. Best teams make the Conference finals and the ratings spike in the finals.

NHL, best match ups are earlier and the finals isn't as marquee. Thus the sizeable difference between the NBA vs NHL finals ratings.

The issue for 1 vs 8 is the Western conference and the time zones. California or the Northwest is very far from Nashville. Lose an entire day basically to travel.

If one the west coast team squeeze in the last wildcard playoff spot this year instead of the Avs
Let’s say the Kings
Then Nashville would play the Kings Still a long travel day with this format.
Rather just go 1 vs 8. 2 vs 7. Etc.

 

[Markus250]

I came up with a way to see how fair the new division format is on a team by team basis. For each team's analysis I assume that the team wins all their series and makes it to the cup finals, every other series is won by the lower seeded team, then I look at the average seed number they had to play against. I then compare this number to the average seed they would have to play against to make it to the cup final if the format ranked the conference 1-8. An (X) means the team lost home ice advantage a round earlier with the current format, a (!) means they kept home ice a round more than they should have. Here are the results.

League/Conf. Rank - Team - Average seed played to win conference- Average seed played if 1-8 format - Difference

1/1 - Nashville - 4.33 - 4.66 - (-0.33)
2/2 - Winnipeg - 2.66 - 3.66 - (-1.00) (X)
3/1 - Tampa - 4.33 - 4.66 - (-0.33)
4/2 - Boston - 2.66 - 3.66 - (-1.00) (X)
5/3 - Vegas - 4.33 - 3.00 - (+1.33) (!)
6/3 - Washington - 4.33 - 3.00 - (+1.33) (!)
7/4 - Toronto - 2.00 - 2.66 - (-0.66) (X)
8/4 - Minnesota - 2.00 - 2.66 - (-0.66) (X)
9/5 - Anaheim - 3.33 - 2.33 - (+1.00) (!)
10/5 - Pittsburgh - 3.33 - 2.33 - (+1.00) (!)
11/6 - San Jose - 3.00 - 2.00 - (+1.00)
12/7 - L.A.- 3.00 - 2.00 - (+1.00)
13/6 - Philadelphia - 3.00 - 2.00 - (+1.00)
14/7 - Columbus - 3.00 - 2.00 - (+1.00)
15/8 - New Jersey - 2.00 - 2.00 - (0.00)
16/N.A - Florida
17/8 - Colorado - 2.00 - 2.00 - (0.00)

This gives a bit of an idea about who is getting the sweet/raw deal in this format but it definitely has limitations. All bottom half teams need to play all the best teams eventually and this calculation doesn't account for having to play a better team earlier on.

Let's try the same idea as before but compare it to a 1-16 playoff format. We will also use the full league rankings to compare average seeds. A double X or ! means home ice shifted two rounds earlier than it should have.

League/Conf. Rank - Team - Average seed played to win cup- Average seed played if 1-16 format - Difference

1 - Nashville - 6.75 - 7.5 - (-0.75)
2 - Winnipeg - 4.25 - 6.5 - (-2.25) (XX)
3 - Tampa - 6.5 - 5.75 - (+0.75) (!)
4 - Boston - 4.25 - 5.25 - (-1.00) (X)
5 - Vegas - 6.25 - 4.75 - (+1.50) (!)
6 - Washington - 7.00 - 4.25 - (+2.75) (!)
7 - Toronto - 3.50 - 4.00 - (-0.50) (X)
8 - Minnesota - 2.75 - 3.75 - (-1.00) (X)
9 - Anaheim - 5.00 - 3.50 - (+1.50) (!)
10 - Pittsburgh - 5.75 - 3.25 - (+2.5) (!)
11 - San Jose - 4.50 - 3.00 - (+1.50)
12 - L.A.- 4.50 - 2.75 - (+1.75)
13 - Philadelphia - 5.00 - 2.50 - (+2.50)
14 - Columbus - 5.00 - 2.50 - (+2.50)
15 - New Jersey - 3.50 - 2.50 - (+1.00)
16 - Florida
17 - Colorado - 2.75 - 2.50 - (+0.25)

This has some of the same limitations of the above format but does a much better job of showing how huge an impact there is from being in a weak or strong division. Here is another ranking to further drive the point home.

Easiest Path to Stanley Cup - Using Average Opponent Rank with current format
(Note: I put the difference between the actual league ranking and the easiest path ranking in the brackets. If multiple teams have the same easiest path ranking, I assume they are all share the lowest rank)

6 (+5) - Washington - 7.00
1 (-1) - Nashville - 6.75
3 (Even) - Tampa - 6.5
5 (+1) - Vegas - 6.25
10 (+5) - Pittsburgh - 5.75
9 (+3) - Anaheim - 5.00
13 (+7) - Philadelphia - 5.00
14 (+8) - Columbus - 5.00
11 (+2) - San Jose - 4.50
12 (+3) - L.A.- 4.50
2 (-9) - Winnipeg - 4.25
4 (-7) - Boston - 4.25
7 (-6) - Toronto - 3.50
15 (+2) - New Jersey - 3.50
8 (-7) - Minnesota - 2.75
17 (+2) - Colorado - 2.75

 

[Slaaapshuter]

It was never a 1-8 format. It was Division winners vs seed 6-8 and then 4th and 5th met. The 2nd best team in the league could still end up with a 4th seed in the conference. The re-seeding was good though.

Divisional playoffs makes sense if you have divisions. If you want a fair 1-8 format, skip divisions.

Only thing really bothering me with current format are wildcards, skip them. Last year we had "divisional playoffs" in the east where at any point there was a maximum of 50% divisional games. Now that's Pejorative Slured.

I could go with a 1-8 format, but then there should be no divisions only conferences.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

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

Honestly, is it just me or do those matchups sound more exciting than what we're actually getting?

 

[Kale Hulls]

I think there is a different level of challenge in playing in your own division because everyone knows everyone.

 

[Jason316]

NHL playoffs in the 80’s was awesome if u can survive your division then u get an opportunity to be in the Western Final(or east)


This 1-8 crap was brought in by Bettmen in the mid 90’s(1994) from the NBA

 

[Burke the Legend]

I still don't understand how people can promote the 1-8 format as more scientific when points are a result of a lopsided divisional schedule.

Extra divisional play and a playoff division bracket at least breeds intense multi year heated rivalry., the 1-8 blender does not.

Anyway, debate is moot because NHL won't do 1-8 because it would increase west conf travel + time zone issues too much in rounds 1-2. West conf owners and GMs wouldn't like it, lowers TV ratings and gives their teams more fatigue. They won't do it just to satisfy some malcontent geeks on hfboards.

 

[Dubi Doo]

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 have to say, the current format's first round looks to have the more entertaining matchups. Perhaps I'll care about the format when my team makes the playoffs. Until then, I'll root for the most entertaining series matchups.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Yes. The old 1-8 matchup seemed to work fine for a few decades. If only we could see Winnipeg-Nashville in the WCF and no first round games featuring 2 top 6 teams.

Take it up with Nashville and Winnipeg ownership. They're part of the group that wanted this format. Nashville doesn't want to potentially play 3 series on the west coast before the Final.

I still don't understand how people can promote the 1-8 format as more scientific when points are a result of a lopsided divisional schedule.

Extra divisional play and a playoff division bracket at least breeds intense multi year heated rivalry., the 1-8 blender does not.

Anyway, debate is moot because NHL won't do 1-8 because it would increase west conf travel + time zone issues too much in rounds 1-2. West conf owners and GMs wouldn't like it, lowers TV ratings and gives their teams more fatigue. They won't do it just to satisfy some malcontent geeks on hfboards.

Not just the schedule, but games are played when various players are hurt too. How can the result of a given game be legit if one team doesn't have their 2nd center and 3rd defenseman, while the other team is completely healthy?

 

[BigEezyE22]

Nashville and Winnipeg will play each other in the 2nd round if both advance. Nashville has the most points in the league and Winnipeg will at worst be tied for 2nd most points in the league. That alone tells you how ****ed up the playoff format is.

Pens had the same deal last year.

Hell, played their highest ranked opponent in the 2nd round 2 years in a row, with a couple creampuffs in the finals 2 years in a row.

 

[Curufinwe]

I hated the 1-8. It was copied from the NBA.

The NHL's 1-8 playoffs had re-seeding, which the NBA didn't.

 

[Curufinwe]

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

Yup, but these would be better and fairer matchups. And I say that knowing that Boston would kick the Flyers ass. It's not just about the silliness of Boston playing Toronto in the first round. Reseeding makes the second round better and fairer, also.

1 TB v 8 NJ
2 Was v 7 CBJ
3 Bos v 6 Phi
4 Tor v 5 Pit

1 Nas v 8 Col
2 VGK v 7 LA
3 Win v 6 SJ
4 Min v 5 Ana

 

[Curufinwe]

The format is fine. exciting first round match ups is good for the sport. I will never understand the people who completely despise the new system.

The matchups above are just as exciting.

 

[Curufinwe]

I still don't understand how people can promote the 1-8 format as more scientific when points are a result of a lopsided divisional schedule.

Extra divisional play and a playoff division bracket at least breeds intense multi year heated rivalry., the 1-8 blender does not.

Anyway, debate is moot because NHL won't do 1-8 because it would increase west conf travel + time zone issues too much in rounds 1-2. West conf owners and GMs wouldn't like it, lowers TV ratings and gives their teams more fatigue. They won't do it just to satisfy some malcontent geeks on hfboards.

The league had 1-8 back when Detroit was in the Western conference.

And the blowback from the loser of the Bos/Tor series is going to be intense, just like it was when CBJ had 108 points and had to play Pit in the first round last year.

 

[Burke the Legend]

The league had 1-8 back when Detroit was in the Western conference.

And the blowback from the loser of the Bos/Tor series is going to be intense, just like it was when CBJ had 108 points and had to play Pit in the first round last year.

Why? You think if Toronto loses to Boston they are going to go ape because they didn't draw the MUCH weaker Pittsburgh Penguins? Are you serious?

Also it's like some of you guys are stuck in the 80s or something where sub .500 teams are getting into playoffs and top seeds get an easy sweep vs bottom suckers. Teams like Colorado, New Jersey and Philly all have $75 million of NHL talent and are coming on strong into the playoffs, they are all 3 easily capable of upsetting their higher ranked opponents.

 

[DEVILS130]

I honestly wouldn't mind full divisional playoffs (1 v 4, 2 v 3). Makes more sense than what it is now

 

[ZeroPucksGiven]

It had to be said. Absolute nonsense that there is zero chance at a TB-BOS ECF, and that Pittsburgh gets to avoid both until then.

STEPDAD GARY!!! This league is so rigged for the Pens...

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

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.

And the penguins prize for finishing with 111 points last year was a first round match with a 108 point team. Followed by a 118 point team.