The Stanley Cup Playoffs Format Is Altering Finally

With attainable growth on the way in which—and everyone knows it’s coming—the NHL should change the format for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whether or not they need to.

We have now heard NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speak about how he likes issues the way in which they’re, but when the League does develop to 34, perhaps to 36 groups, there shall be a variety of noise so as to add a play within the spherical.

No Need For The NHL To Expand the Stanley Cup Playoffs

We have now heard the arguments concerning the season being too lengthy and the common season being the play-in-round. Simply have a look at the final couple of seasons, the place the previous few weeks and video games felt like play-in video games. Nevertheless, it’ll finally make sense with groups rising and the NHL’s expertise degree so excessive.

To not point out, the tiebreakers are a bit complicated. Once more, every little thing relies on regulation and time beyond regulation wins, not shootout wins. That’s an argument for an additional day about ending the shootout and increasing time beyond regulation.

When Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Interval joined Mick Kern and Dennis Bernstein on Sirius XM NHL Community Radio, they mentioned increasing the playoffs, contemplating that groups like Buffalo, Ottawa, and Detroit have been shut. The Crimson Wings tied for factors final yr however fell brief due to tiebreakers. Montreal is on the rise, so finally a play-in spherical will come.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Should the NHL Expand its Playoff Format?

Dave Pagnotta: “I agree with you, after we get to that time, I imagine. And I’ve talked to no matter I’ll say it, I’ve talked to some house owners, they usually imagine as effectively that we’ll get to 36 now. That doesn’t imply we’re going to get to 36 within the subsequent spherical of growth. I feel we’ll add two extra groups, after which there’ll be a little bit of a spot and whatnot, after which we’ll get to 36.

My timeframe a couple of years in the past was 2030 in and round that vary. I’m going to stay with that by way of at the very least being recognized that we’re going to 36. We might not have 36 taking part in by 2030, however we’ll know that perhaps in a yr or two, we’ve that different staff coming in, Metropolis X and Metropolis Y. I feel after we get to that time.

100% the playoff format shall be completely different, whether or not it’s a playoff round-robin or a play-in; nonetheless, I assume perhaps a prime staff in every convention will get a bye for the primary, no matter. Like, there’s so many alternative choices.”

The argument in opposition to this shall be that the season is so long as it’s. However you may’t complain concerning the season being too lengthy and need the playoffs to develop, too.

Bettman Still Says No on Expanded Stanley Cup Playoffs

Dennis Bernstein: “I need to say this: the identical persons are advocating for and eager to develop the playoffs. They’re the identical those who complain that we’re taking part in in late June. So you may’t have it each methods as a result of they’re not shortening the common season as a result of they want the income. So yeah, if you’d like growth, nice, however then don’t come to me, then they’re nonetheless taking part in on July 1 or June 27 and say, Oh, the season’s too lengthy, proper? You’ll be able to’t have each methods.”

With the 4-Nations Cup this season and the Olympics in 2026, the season will once more run into late June. The NHL will proceed to play video games abroad, and if expanded playoffs are on the horizon, the query shall be whether or not the League need to begin the season earlier.

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Proper now, the season begins on October 4th abroad. Do they shorten the preseason and begin on the finish of September? Some house owners are reluctant to do this, particularly in opposition to the NFL and faculty soccer. Nevertheless, there have to be a compromise concerning how the worldwide hockey calendar is about up.

The NHL and increasing the Stanley Cup Playoffs, particularly if growth is coming, are one thing to control shifting ahead.