The current format of the NHL playoffs bracket has been in place for more than a decade now, starting with the 2013-14 season. However, many players don’t completely favor this format, which is based on the divisional standings.

Under this format, teams in the first round typically face either a divisional rival or a wild-card opponent. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar isn’t too fond of this system. In his recent comments to the league, he made his frustrations crystal clear.

Cale Makar Wants the NHL to Go Back to Conference-Based Playoffs

Under the current format, the top three teams in each division, along with two wild-card teams from each conference, advance to the NHL playoffs. This structure has remained consistent since the 2013-14 season, except for the modified formats during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons due to COVID-19.

However, before this format was implemented, the NHL rewarded the top eight teams from each conference with a playoff berth. This format continued from 1998 to 2013 and worked similarly to how the NBA currently conducts its playoffs.

Makar wants the NHL to return to this system. Speaking at the recent NHL media tour, Makar said, “I feel like all the players want back to 1-to-8 [seeding].” Under the previous format, the NHL had three divisions per conference.

Based on my conversations with players at NHL Media Tour this week, there’s one unifying belief they share about the Stanley Cup Playoffs format:

They want to go back to 1-through-8 instead of the wild card.
“I feel like all the players want back to 1-to-8,” said Cale Makar. pic.twitter.com/3jGTlu4cME
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 12, 2025

The six division leaders from both conferences used to get the top three seedings in each conference, while the remaining 10 spots were filled by the next five best teams in each conference based on points. The No. 1 seed was then matched against the eighth-seeded team.

The old format of the 1-through-8 system used to give the top teams a more significant reward for staying at the top of the rankings throughout the regular season. Additionally, it also made for more interesting matchups each season.

Under the current format, the matchups have ended up becoming predictable, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals facing each other three times in a row between 2016 and 2018 despite being the best two teams in the conference then.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings have been forced to face the Edmonton Oilers four straight years since 2022, losing every time. Makar and the Avalanche know these frustrations well, having experienced similar divisional format limitations this past season.

The No. 5-seeded Avalanche faced the No. 3-seeded Dallas Stars and got eliminated in the second round. Under the older format, they would’ve faced the fourth-seeded Kings and hypothetically had a better chance for a deep playoff run.

However, despite Makar’s belief that most players agree with him, changing the playoff format wasn’t addressed in the recent CBA negotiations. The NHL and NHLPA ratified a new collective bargaining agreement in June 2025.

This new agreement expanded the regular season to 84 games but did not change the bracket format. Makar hopes that a change comes soon.