Should the NHL expand the Stanley Cup playoffs?
PUBLICATION
Wilson SalaunApril 23, 2022 (5:07)
We saw it in the NBA.
The play-in round permitted to generate a good amount of the money just before the start of the playoffs. Even if you're a 10th seeded team, you can qualify for the postseason if you find a way to win two games.
Of course, when you see the business side of it, you just can love it. But in terms of actual performances, why should a team make the playoffs if they didn't succeed to reach an acceptable level during the regular season? That's not fair and you diminish the importance of the regular season by doing so.
However, Greg Wyshynski, from ESPN wrote a great piece about it. He thinks that the NHL should adopt the same system. Here is his explanation...
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"Here's what the NHL postseason should look like, going forward:
- 20 teams, 10 from each conference
- Start with a play-in round, featuring the No. 7-10 seeds, adopting the NBA's efficient and fair format
- After the play-in round, the undeniably perfect 16-team battle of attrition known as the Stanley Cup playoffs
- OK, almost perfect: Reorganize the final four teams by regular-season record, foregoing geographic designations in lieu of potential rivalry matchups for the Cup
- Be happy
- Print money
- Let's go," wrote Wyshynski.
- 20 teams, 10 from each conference
- Start with a play-in round, featuring the No. 7-10 seeds, adopting the NBA's efficient and fair format
- After the play-in round, the undeniably perfect 16-team battle of attrition known as the Stanley Cup playoffs
- OK, almost perfect: Reorganize the final four teams by regular-season record, foregoing geographic designations in lieu of potential rivalry matchups for the Cup
- Be happy
- Print money
- Let's go," wrote Wyshynski.
One thing though : the play-in games in the NBA are very exciting to watch because there's a lot at stake, and that's how you bring new fans.
What do you think of the idea?
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