Sportsnet video podcast. Jeff and Elliotte sit down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his Hall of Fame induction, the NHL's growth and future, and family.
Why are we re-awakening news that's a month old, cbcwpg?
Is it because of something that was said at the BOG meeting?
The quote I posted was from HNIC this past weekend. From discussions at the BOG meetings.
Gary might think it's dead, but there are owners that want it discussed.
Play in games would have to be a one game only.
But the problem with this in hockey is that 'one game' doesn't really make sense. Hockey is a game which tends to upsets and streaks more than any other, because it is low scoring, and a hot goalie makes a huge difference.
In fact, while there is no way to prove this, it would be my contention that any of the SC playoffs in the last 10 years could be re-run in their entirety, and no SCF matchup would repeat, and no champion would win the 2nd time around.
It's kinda odd that Bettman is so against expanding the playoff format.
He calls 24 of 32 teams making the playoffs "pie-in-the-sky" but the NHL adapted the 16 team playoff format back when they had 21 teams.
I think Bettman's spot on, the balance is good as it is so why try drastic changes that have the potential to ruin a season or even several seasons altogether.
24 actually is too much, in my opinion. 20 would be perfect.
Top 6 in each conference (or top 3 in each division) guaranteed playoffs. Then 7-10 & 8-9 (or 3-4 in each division) play the one-game wildcard.
I don't see a single downside to that plan.
As recently as 1997:
16/26 = 61.5% of teams make the post-season.
20/30 = 62.5% of teams make the post-season.
That doesn't look too "drastic" to me. If anything, adding all of these teams without expanding playoffs is drastic.
24/32 is 75 %
I think we have now a better balance than before, but even if you favor the situation in 1997 this proposed change would not be comparable to it. 20 is not a good number already because it messes up the playoff tree.
Lets hope it NEVER goes higher than 16 teams in the playoffs!
Yeah, have to agree here and surprised we seem to be the minority report in this thread. One of the biggest knocks against hockey's legitimacy in the US (besides ties, and yes I know the NFL has them, but (a) they're rare and (b) the NFL is a tad more popular than the NHL) was "doesn't everyone get into the playoffs?"
16 out of 21 teams making the playoffs was absolutely embarrassing. It took adding 11 teams to get the NHL close to the ratios of the rest of US sports leagues (NBA: 16 out of 30; NFL: 12 out of 32; MLB: 10 out of 30). The NHL is still on the high end, and even in a vacuum, absolutely should not cross 50% imo.
Hate the idea. If playoffs expanded, I wouldn't even bother with the league until playoffs started. Would make the season useless to me.