Do the playoffs start too late?

[Rob]

The playoffs should be starting this week. Begin the season earlier if you must. Hockey in late June is ridiculous.

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[a mangy Meowth]

Voted yes and no.

I like that there's more hockey. But also the playoffs are fun, so I'd like them to start already!

I can't decide.

 

[Evergreen]

Yes. Start the season earlier and start playoffs earlier.

Voted yes and no.

I like that there's more hockey. But also the playoffs are fun, so I'd like them to start already!

I can't decide.

Starting playoffs earlier would entail moving the start of the season earlier, not shortening the regular season. So the amount of hockey is the same.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Yes. Minimizing cross sport playoffs would be ideal.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Yes, I personally think the season should be shortened a bit to around 70 games or so and playoffs would start a little earlier. Could start the season a little bit sooner too.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Starting playoffs earlier would entail moving the start of the season earlier, not shortening the regular season. So the amount of hockey is the same.

Sounds great to me!

 

[Machinehead]

This is because teams have to have multiple random ass weeks off in addition to the all-star break.

 

[Evergreen]

This is because teams have to have multiple random ass weeks off in addition to the all-star break.

I think it’s more because of the late start to the season. Mid October is too late for the start of the season. They should move it up to mid/late September.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Yes, playoff hockey in June is ridiculous.

 

[Kiorei]

Yes, hockey is a winter sport.

 

[Brodeur]

Yes. Minimizing cross sport playoffs would be ideal.

Starting the NHL playoffs earlier would cause a big overlap between the Stanley Cup Finals with the NBA playoffs. The two leagues do their best not to step on each other's toes during the Finals. Once in awhile, Game 1 of SCF will conflict with Game 7 of an NBA Conference Final and there's typically a noticeable hit in TV ratings in the US; In 2016, some Bay Area fans had to choose between watching Sharks/Penguins Game 1 or Warriors/Thunder Game 7. In 2011-12 the NBA had a lockout and their season was a week+ behind schedule. This meant that that five games of the Stanley Cup had to go up against the NBA Conference Final.

I get that it's hard for hockey fanatics to accept that the average American TV viewer would rather watch the NBA than the NHL. Mix in that the NHL/NBA now both share ESPN/ABC/TNT as the broadcast partners. I can only imagine that they'd want to showcase the Stanley Cup Final on its own.

TL;DR - There would be financial ramifications.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I think it’s more because of the late start to the season. Mid October is too late for the start of the season. They should move it up to mid/late September.

It’s been said before lots of US based teams don’t want an earlier start, and some request more road games earlier to avoid that.

 

[Strangle]

Playoffs need to start the first week of april

 

[Arthur Morgan]

voted no but maybe they could get rid of that bye week crap and just move on with the season, 1st round should start when The Masters start I think

 

[Golden_Jet]

Starting the NHL playoffs earlier would cause a big overlap between the Stanley Cup Finals with the NBA playoffs. The two leagues do their best not to step on each other's toes during the Finals. Once in awhile, Game 1 of SCF will conflict with Game 7 of an NBA Conference Final and there's typically a noticeable hit in TV ratings in the US; In 2016, some Bay Area fans had to choose between watching Sharks/Penguins Game 1 or Warriors/Thunder Game 7. In 2011-12 the NBA had a lockout and their season was a week+ behind schedule. This meant that that five games of the Stanley Cup had to go up against the NBA Conference Final.

I get that it's hard for hockey fanatics to accept that the average American TV viewer would rather watch the NBA than the NHL. Mix in that the NHL/NBA now both share ESPN/ABC/TNT as the broadcast partners. I can only imagine that they'd want to showcase the Stanley Cup Final on its own.

TL;DR - There would be financial ramifications.

Starting earlier, lessens the overlap.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Start the season in September

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

No.

If it starts earlier they'll line up against the entire NFL season. The league doesn't need to get it's teeth kicked in by the NFL on scheduling for 5 months

 

[Golden_Jet]

I would like to see it go back to 70-72 game seasons. Just need players agree to a 10% cut for less games played.

 

[Brodeur]

Starting earlier, lessens the overlap.

The Stanley Cup Finals would be going up against the NBA every night was my point. Unfortunately in the US, that would put the NHL as the secondary story that night.

 

[BLNY]

4 divisions. 32 teams.

Inter division: 7*4 = 28 games
Intra division: 24*2 = 48 games
Total = 76 games

The average is 3 games a week. That's two weeks off the season and has us starting the playoffs this week and not starting the season in September. It's balanced. No instances of playing a team 3 teams. Every team plays an even number of home and away games against every other team.

 

[BB79]

I feel like all sports seasons are too long. Baseball is the worst offender. The began the season in March. Are you kidding? Some of us are still getting snow. On top of that, do we really need to see teams that are 30 games behind in July play for 2+ more months? Baseball season should be May 1st-August 25th or so, playoffs over September. Chop the regular season down to 100-120 games.

But yeah, same deal with hockey. End the regular season by March 20th. Cup awarded in mid-May instead of early June

 

[biturbo19]

Yes. The season is too long.

Though there is something to be said for how ingrained it feels like it's become, to be watching playoff hockey in the spring while the sun is out and shining, patios and decks are primed and ready, etc. It doesn't really make any sense and the season is just too much of a drag anyway, but i don't actually hate that it lines up with nicer weather.

 

[Lt Dan]

The season is perfect as it is.

It's coming as close as possible to avoiding summer on both ends

 

[Evergreen]

It’s been said before lots of US based teams don’t want an earlier start, and some request more road games earlier to avoid that.

I’ve heard that too. I know some markets want to minimize their overlap with the NFL.

 

[Machinehead]

Also, you know what starts too late? The f***ing games.

"7:00 PM" local time and if it's any kind of national game, they're playing hockey at 7:34.

That's going to be the entire playoffs.