If the NHL wants to better their product, they should start by changing the current playoff format
Alright. Okay. I know it's early, but looking at the 2022 NHL playoff picture has me frustrated already. If the playoffs were to start today, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who as of today hold the 7th best record in the entire league with games in hand, would be scheduled for a playoff match-up with the Florida Panthers, the team that currently holds the 2nd best overall record in the league.
The Atlantic Division is stacked at the top, and Tampa, Florida and Toronto are three of the top 7 teams in the entire league. Over in the Metropolitan Division, the situation gets even worse, with the Capitals, Rangers, Hurricanes and Penguins currently slotting in 4 of the top 9 spots in the league overall.
The likely result of the current format means that some of the top teams in the league, after the regular season is completed, will have an extremely tough first round opponent and their path to go deep in the playoffs becomes a daunting one. As of today, the first round match-ups would look like this:
TBL vs. BOS VGK vs. EDMFLA vs. TOR NSH vs. MINWAS vs. PIT STL vs. COLNYR vs. CAR ANA vs. CAL
In the Eastern Conference alone, that's going to result in at least three teams from the top third of the league standings being eliminated after Round 1 of the playoffs. In the Western Conference the picture doesn't get much better, considering the match-ups and current positions there. Potentially three good teams in the top half of the league could be eliminated by the end of Round 1.
Although long considered a pipe dream, my preferred playoff format (and I'm sure some will agree) would be;
1 vs. 16
2 vs. 15
3 vs. 14
4 vs. 13
5 vs. 12
6 vs. 11
7 vs.10
8 vs. 9
This would result in teams pushing hard to be at the top of the league, and would result in an "easier" path to go deeper into the playoffs for the league's top teams. After all, they play 82 regular season games for a reason, so let's up the ante on the value of those games and points to make the regular season games that much more meaningful.
If the playoffs were to start today under that structure, those match-ups would look like this:
TBL vs. WINFLA vs. EDMWAS vs. CALNYR vs. MINCAR vs. COLVGK vs. ANATOR vs. STLNSH vs. PIT
This would create some never before seen playoff match-ups and could provide some interesting outcomes following Round 1. It may also create new rivalries as fans of the losing team would no doubt be bitter the next time their playoff opponent rolled into town.
I would propose that teams maintain their 1-16 seeding throughout the playoffs with the highest seed always playing the lowest seed and having home ice advantage, etc.
I'm sure those who oppose this plan will talk about travel requirements and money, etc., however, I find it hard to be sympathetic to billionaire owners when this could result in a much better playoff structure, and push teams to be competitive and finish in the top half of the league.
Maybe the best we can hope for is a return to each conference doing 1-8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5 first round series. This too would be an improvement over the current playoff picture in my opinion.
The league talks of wanting to increase hockey related revenue. One can assume that new, different and potentially exciting playoff match-ups could do just that.
