The Playoff Format Is A REAL PROBLEM In The NHL

30 comments

1. The AVS destroyed the Wild last night. Wild have no chance! Empty trophy room

2. In 1-8, Dallas and Minnesota would still be 4 vs 5 since they made the 2 and 3 seeds other division winners.

3. Not a single person likes the current playoff format outside of Gary Betman. Unfortunately his opinion is the only one that matters

4. 1-8 for sure! We want more playoff games with the wild avs and stars

5. Oilers had to give Pittsburgh a 2nd round pick and take on Jarry's contract to get rid of Skinner

6. Having divisional matchups in the first round is always entertaining, BUT if the divisional matchups were able to square up in the conference finals it would be even better. I do understand the logistics nightmare of not knowing the next round until the last game is played, and the luxury of having tidy brackets.

7. I keep seeing 2026 first round & 2029 first round pic when people are discussing the Quinn Hughes trade. Which one is it?

8. As a pitsburg fan I love the trade. Skinner is also like 5 years younger xD Its actually cracked how oilers got scammed so much

9. Seriously bring back the 1 vs 8 matchups especially if I see ANOTHER KINGS VS OILERS matchup I’m not watching

10. 8:19 then you must be pissed off pretty much every season. There are always divisions that are top heavy and others who are weaker in terms of overall league standings.

    I want to make sure I understand this…you’ll be upset if 2 of the leagues teams meet up in round 1 for what should be an amazing series?

    Does it make you mad that the worst teams in the league according to the standings are Western Conference teams? Several of those being from the Central Division. Why isn’t the argument the top Central teams are benefiting from playing more games against weaker teams? I’m not making that argument because it’s as stupid as the one you are making.

    The only way to do it fairly is to abandon both Divisions and Conferences and play each team the same number of times and top 16 get in….and that’s not gonna happen IMO because it’s fine like it is.

11. Maybe do top two from each division and 4 wild card spots. Then seed them based on their season record.

12. As far as the stadium series jerseys, people always need to be negative. They put too much energy into something they claim not to like. Just like refs. EVERY single year of my 39 year life, people have said “the refs are the worst they’ve ever been.” Having some positivity makes life better, folks.

13. I used to think the format was a problem because it could mean that a team that’s 3rd in a division could be less than the 8th team in total points and still make playoffs but it has never happened since they went to that format. I guess it still could though. Colorado looks dominant but they don’t want to play Dallas in playoffs. Dallas is a tough matchup for them cause they can slow down pace and make Colorado play a tempo they dont want to play.

14. Doan has been way better for us then peterka and couzens imo

15. 1-8 comeback is a must.

16. I couldn't agree more! The format absolutely should change, but getting something like this to change in the NHL would take an act of God.

17. 1-8 makes sense, but money talks. The major broadcast networks like the current format, and they don't want the change. The current format is here to stay for the foreseeable future, unless the owners or the TV networks force the change.

18. Skinner had to go, had years to prove his worth and was never able to do it. He sometimes had a good game but thats not good enough to win a cup. Pickard carried him half the time through both cup runs.

19. 0:03 DAMN RIGHT IT IS

20. nhl playoff format is a joke. 1-8 is king

21. Stars and Wild should NOT be meeting in the first round.

22. Yeaaa. Let’s go Himmy

23. Leafs suffered from playoff format its last couple post seasons

24. mean this as a compliment I think but you remind me of Walter Jr

25. 1-8 format but also the standings need to use the 3 point system (3 pts for regulation win, 2 pts for OT/SO win, 1 pt for OT/SO loss and 0 pts for reglation loss) like any other serious league.

26. End of an Error!

27. 12:00
    Especially since it doesn't even qualify as a record.

    Distinction is the word you were looking four.

28. The Penguins went down the toilet after they traded Jarry. He was playing so well after his return from the injury.

29. You gotta fresh up on your idioms. "within an arms race" wtf is that? Or "it's not really threading the needle enough for me"

30. Th divisional playoff format is way more exciting