Time for the NHL to change the playoff format

[San Diego Sabres Fan]

I think the NHL should look at making some changes in the playoff format,the reason, there is no reward for winning your division other than having a seventh game at home. At one time first place teams received a bye in the first round. Maybe give the higher seed 5 home games and the lower seed 2 in the first round.This would certainly make the regular season performance much more important. Look at the difference in the tempo in the playoffs compared to the regular season it's enormous. I also think that the trade deadline should be in December, before teams are mathmatically eliminated from the playoffs, so you don't see the systematic purging of team rosters you see in todays game. This is not sour grapes because the Sabres were bounced in the first round, but with the rules set up the way they are, I would rather see my team rest players at the end of the season to get them healthy for the playoff grind if they know they have secured a playoff spot who cares what seed you get! We could see the 7th and 8th seed teams in the east finals this year. What a joke. What does that say about the regular season. Look how many times Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk were traded by St.Louis only to see them go back to the blues the next year. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

[deluca67]

I think the NHL should look at making some changes in the playoff format,the reason, there is no reward for winning your division other than having a seventh game at home. At one time first place teams received a bye in the first round. Maybe give the higher seed 5 home games and the lower seed 2 in the first round.This would certainly make the regular season performance much more important. Look at the difference in the tempo in the playoffs compared to the regular season it's enormous. I also think that the trade deadline should be in December, before teams are mathmatically eliminated from the playoffs, so you don't see the systematic purging of team rosters you see in todays game. This is not sour grapes because the Sabres were bounced in the first round, but with the rules set up the way they are, I would rather see my team rest players at the end of the season to get them healthy for the playoff grind if they know they have secured a playoff spot who cares what seed you get! We could see the 7th and 8th seed teams in the east finals this year. What a joke. What does that say about the regular season. Look how many times Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk were traded by St.Louis only to see them go back to the blues the next year. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

Changes in the playoff format wont make the Sabres a better team.

 

What is wrong with a Habs/Flyers match-up? Both teams have plenty of Stanley Cup history as well as many star players. Hockey wise it is a great match-up.

[ntjacks79]

Changes in the playoff format wont make the Sabres a better team.

 

What is wrong with a Habs/Flyers match-up? Both teams have plenty of Stanley Cup history as well as many star players. Hockey wise it is a great match-up.

You're missing his point. It's not the match-up, it's the fact that the regular season is meaningless... and I can't say I disagree with him the more I think about it. The Sabres SHOULD have gotten more out of winning the division than they did. But it's the same with all sports. Regular season only means something in baseball, because a lot less teams make the playoffs (maybe football too). But basketball and hockey regular seasons are a joke.

[SwampD]

I like the way it is now. Instead of changing the rules to make the regular season have more meaning, why doesn't someone just tell the Sabres that the playoffs actually mean more.

[FogBat]

I like the way it is now. Instead of changing the rules to make the regular season have more meaning, why doesn't someone just tell the Sabres that the playoffs actually mean more.

+1

[Vanek Nation]

The post lockout/salary cap league finally realizes parity and now the fans are complaining about it...

[deluca67]

You're missing his point. It's not the match-up, it's the fact that the regular season is meaningless... and I can't say I disagree with him the more I think about it. The Sabres SHOULD have gotten more out of winning the division than they did. But it's the same with all sports. Regular season only means something in baseball, because a lot less teams make the playoffs (maybe football too). But basketball and hockey regular seasons are a joke.

Here's an idea to help you. The Sabres are a division winner. They play the Bruins. But instead of paying 7 games against the Bruins. They play home games against the Bruins and play the road games against the Tampa Bay Lighting so they can pad some stats. The playoffs are always going to be different because you eliminate the 7 worst teams in each conference. The Sabres had home ice and a two goal lead in game two. They crapped the bed. Get over it. The playoffs don;t need change. The Sabres do.

[deluca67]

Here's an idea to help you. The Sabres are a division winner. They play the Bruins. But instead of paying 7 games against the Bruins. They play home games against the Bruins and play the road games against the Tampa Bay Lighting so they can pad some stats. The playoffs are always going to be different because you eliminate the 7 worst teams in each conference. The Sabres had home ice and a two goal lead in game two. They crapped the bed. Get over it. The playoffs don;t need change. The Sabres do.

One more thing. The playoffs didn't make the Sabres regular season meaningless. Regier did when he had the hottest goaltender at the trade deadline and did nothing to improve this roster.

[FogBat]

I think the NHL should look at making some changes in the playoff format,the reason, there is no reward for winning your division other than having a seventh game at home. At one time first place teams received a bye in the first round. Maybe give the higher seed 5 home games and the lower seed 2 in the first round.This would certainly make the regular season performance much more important. Look at the difference in the tempo in the playoffs compared to the regular season it's enormous. I also think that the trade deadline should be in December, before teams are mathmatically eliminated from the playoffs, so you don't see the systematic purging of team rosters you see in todays game. This is not sour grapes because the Sabres were bounced in the first round, but with the rules set up the way they are, I would rather see my team rest players at the end of the season to get them healthy for the playoff grind if they know they have secured a playoff spot who cares what seed you get! We could see the 7th and 8th seed teams in the east finals this year. What a joke. What does that say about the regular season. Look how many times Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk were traded by St.Louis only to see them go back to the blues the next year. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

to your suggestion. 0:32-0:37 prove this.

[bunomatic]

1 should play 16,2 should play 15,3 should play 14 etc.Just like they used to do it.Screw the regional rivalries.Less lower seeded teams making it to the finals and more captivating finals matchups as there would be less upsets.Better yet,put 20 teams in the playoffs with the format I just mentioned.

[Kristian]

I think the NHL should look at making some changes in the playoff format,the reason, there is no reward for winning your division other than having a seventh game at home. At one time first place teams received a bye in the first round. Maybe give the higher seed 5 home games and the lower seed 2 in the first round.This would certainly make the regular season performance much more important. Look at the difference in the tempo in the playoffs compared to the regular season it's enormous. I also think that the trade deadline should be in December, before teams are mathmatically eliminated from the playoffs, so you don't see the systematic purging of team rosters you see in todays game. This is not sour grapes because the Sabres were bounced in the first round, but with the rules set up the way they are, I would rather see my team rest players at the end of the season to get them healthy for the playoff grind if they know they have secured a playoff spot who cares what seed you get! We could see the 7th and 8th seed teams in the east finals this year. What a joke. What does that say about the regular season. Look how many times Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk were traded by St.Louis only to see them go back to the blues the next year. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

 

There should never be a reward for winning your division, as the different divisions are too far apart skill-wise.

 

And why is the 7th and 8th seed teams in the final a joke? If those teams get to the finals, surely they're the better teams?

[Kristian]

One more thing. The playoffs didn't make the Sabres regular season meaningless. Regier did when he had the hottest goaltender at the trade deadline and did nothing to improve this roster.

 

But, but... Losing is just SO hard..... *sniff* :cry:

[Guest Sloth]

Here's an idea to help you. The Sabres are a division winner. They play the Bruins. But instead of paying 7 games against the Bruins. They play home games against the Bruins and play the road games against the Tampa Bay Lighting so they can pad some stats. The playoffs are always going to be different because you eliminate the 7 worst teams in each conference. The Sabres had home ice and a two goal lead in game two. They crapped the bed. Get over it. The playoffs don;t need change. The Sabres do.

 

This one is a definite +1. :thumbsup:

[shrader]

Look how many times Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk were traded by St.Louis only to see them go back to the blues the next year. Am I the only one that thinks this way?

 

Once each?

[ntjacks79]

Here's an idea to help you. The Sabres are a division winner. They play the Bruins. But instead of paying 7 games against the Bruins. They play home games against the Bruins and play the road games against the Tampa Bay Lighting so they can pad some stats. The playoffs are always going to be different because you eliminate the 7 worst teams in each conference. The Sabres had home ice and a two goal lead in game two. They crapped the bed. Get over it. The playoffs don;t need change. The Sabres do.

You can attack me all you want. I'm not the one who started this thread... just said that I can see the point that was being made. If you've read any of my other posts you would know that I am more for massive change on the Sabres than just about anyone on this board...

 

But I DO think that a system that produces a Flyers-Habs match-up in the Conf Finals (if it happens) is a little suspect...

[Stoner]

You can attack me all you want. I'm not the one who started this thread... just said that I can see the point that was being made. If you've read any of my other posts you would know that I am more for massive change on the Sabres than just about anyone on this board...

 

But I DO think that a system that produces a Flyers-Habs match-up in the Conf Finals (if it happens) is a little suspect...

 

How did the system produce it? The other conference is going to be 1-2.

[ntjacks79]

How did the system produce it? The other conference is going to be 1-2.

And the sun will come up tomorrow. What's the point? The system CAN work. It just didn't in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers and Habs wouldn't have even made the playoffs out West. We could have a Stanley Cup winner that only won because of the weak conference they're in. That bothers me a little. But it's not that big a deal...

[Billfold100]

1 should play 16,2 should play 15,3 should play 14 etc.Just like they used to do it.Screw the regional rivalries.Less lower seeded teams making it to the finals and more captivating finals matchups as there would be less upsets.Better yet,put 20 teams in the playoffs with the format I just mentioned.

 

+1 old school. like it.

[Stoner]

And the sun will come up tomorrow. What's the point? The system CAN work. It just didn't in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers and Habs wouldn't have even made the playoffs out West. We could have a Stanley Cup winner that only won because of the weak conference they're in. That bothers me a little. But it's not that big a deal...

 

Just eliminate the playoffs then. Washington vs. San Jose for the Cup.

[shrader]

1 should play 16,2 should play 15,3 should play 14 etc.Just like they used to do it.Screw the regional rivalries.Less lower seeded teams making it to the finals and more captivating finals matchups as there would be less upsets.Better yet,put 20 teams in the playoffs with the format I just mentioned.

 

They'd have to majorly overhaul the entire schedule then because you can't seed everyone together when their schedules are incredibly different. Personally, I miss the old 4 divisions and the division semi, division final, conference final, Stanley Cup final format. Yeah, it brings on a lot of the same matchups year after year, but that is where you really start to hate certain teams/fans.

[theend]

1st # - East Seed vs. 2nd # - West Seed

 

'99 - '00 - 4 vs. 2

'00 - '01 - 1 vs. 1

'01 - '02 - 3 vs. 1

'02 - '03 - 2 vs. 7

'03 - '04 - 1 vs. 6

'05 - '06 - 2 vs. 8

'06 - '07 - 4 vs. 2

'07 - '08 - 2 vs. 1

08' - '09 - 4 vs. 2

 

In the past decade, only 3 times has anyone below a 4 seed advanced to the finals. That's 3 teams out of a possible 20...or 15% of the time. That means 85% of the time, favored teams are making the finals. And EVERY year, there is always a 1 or 2 seed in the finals from at least one conference. Hardly seems like a system that isn't advancing the higher seeds. You're just focused in on this one because this year is one of the anomalies.

 

That said, I could be convinced to support the whole 1 vs. 16 idea, if only for the diverse and interesting match-ups it would present every year with multiple East-West series.

 

Edit: Actually, because of the '04-'05 lockout, it's 3 teams out of a possible 18...making it 16-17% of the time, and higher seeds advancing 83-84% of the time. Still doesn't change things much.

[notwoz]

You're missing his point. It's not the match-up, it's the fact that the regular season is meaningless... and I can't say I disagree with him the more I think about it. The Sabres SHOULD have gotten more out of winning the division than they did. But it's the same with all sports. Regular season only means something in baseball, because a lot less teams make the playoffs (maybe football too). But basketball and hockey regular seasons are a joke.

The Sabres got exactly what the other division winners got. In the case of the Sabres -- and the Caps -- they couldn't do anything with the advantage they had. That's not the system's problem. That's the teams' problem. If there is a flaw with the playoff system it's that too many teams make the playoffs. Unfortunately, however, neither the owners nor the players association would agree to changing the playoff structure because there's too much money at stake.

[Eleven]

The Sabres got exactly what the other division winners got. In the case of the Sabres -- and the Caps -- they couldn't do anything with the advantage they had. That's not the system's problem. That's the teams' problem. If there is a flaw with the playoff system it's that too many teams make the playoffs. Unfortunately, however, neither the owners nor the players association would agree to changing the playoff structure because there's too much money at stake.

 

And the Devils and the Penguins. So far.

[apuszczalowski]

The point to the playoffs is that anything can happen and every team has a chance. The "prize" for winning your division in the regular season is that you get a pretty banner to hang in the rafters of your arena (I think), and you get home ice advantage, and get to play a lower seeded team. Theres nothing wrong with the format of the playoffs, and it doesn't make the regular season meaningless. When the playoffs started, who would you have rather played, the lowest scoring team the Bruins, The Flyers who made the playoffs in a shootout on the last game of the year, or the powerhouse #1 Washington team?

 

The idea that the OP came up with about making the trade deadline in December instead would lead to alot less deals cause no one is going to be willing to deal cause they still have a chance, and resting players at the end for the playoffs is what the NFL is trying to get rid of cause it makes the last few weeks worthless and fans become disinterested cause no one wants to pay to see backups. Proffesional players shouldn't need to "rest up" for the playoffs

[MichFan]

The idea of a 1st round bye is a non-starter. There would be little or no benefit to sitting idle for 10 days while your opponent is building confidence and gaining momentum. That's basically what Washington did the last couple weeks of the season and you see where it got them. Combining all teams and dropping Conferences would take a lot of fun out of the playoffs. Fewer rivalries, less common opponents, less intensity.

 

The great thing about the NHL playoffs is that any team has a chance. I like it the way it is. The Sabres teams that have gone deep deserved to, this years' team deserved to lose in the 1st round. The Blackhawks and Sharks faced challenges and won. The Devils and Caps faced challenges and folded. I don't see any problems here.