Kukla's Korner Hockey
A Unique, One-Year Playoff Format
by Paul on 12/13/12 at 02:38 PM ET
Comments (6)
from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,
If we play a 48-game season, my suggestion would be to increase the playoff pool from 16 to 24 teams. It would be a conference-only format, and the top four teams in each conference would draw a first-round bye, and then teams ranked fifth to 12th would play in a best-of-three play-in round. No. 5 would play No. 12. No. 6 would play No. 11, and so on.
The lower seed starts with a home game, and then the higher seed gets the final two games at home. You would have to do that to ensure that each team gets a home game while minimizing travel.
Once the play-in round is over, the teams are re-seeded No. 1 through No. 8 and the regular playoff format resumes.
Can you imagine the intensity of those best-of-three play-in rounds? Historically, the most buzz about the NHL playoffs comes in the first round because there are fans from 16 teams still believing they can win the Stanley Cup. Wouldn't the buzz be greater if 24 teams were still alive in this one-time unique postseason format?
Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk, NHLPA, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
After the astrisked playoffs and shortened season, the winning team should be awarded this:
Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 12/13/12 at 03:08 PM ET
Oh yeah, this will only take them 3 weeks to agree on.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 12/13/12 at 03:15 PM ET
Gimmicks brought fans back last time. This seems right up the NHL’s playbook alley.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 12/13/12 at 03:16 PM ET
If there’s a better example of putting the cart before the horse, I’ve yet to see it.
How about a column that details the upcoming UFAs teams should be looking at replacing or retaining while he’s at it?
And, just to note, Allen’s actually good compared to most hockey writers.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 12/13/12 at 03:50 PM ET
If we’re talking insane entertaning and only-useful-on-beer-leagues, I much prefer Bill Simmons’ Entertaning As Hell Tournament.
Shorten the regular season by four games, guarantee the top six seeds in each conference, then have a double-elimination tourney for the seventh and eighth seeds between the remaining 15 teams.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070411
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 12/13/12 at 03:59 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Report: Sharks and Logan Couture reach contract extension
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville declares Marian Hossa ‘day-to-day’ with ‘upper-body’ injury
Boston out-classes Chicago, takes 2-1 series lead via 2-0 win in Game 3
Cherry chats with the top prospects
Hossa out, Chara nearly out—warm-ups are dangerous!
Video- Hockey Night In Canada SCF Game 3 Opening Montage
Open Post- Game 3 Chicago vs. Boston
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at pk@kuklaskorner.com
When would you set the trade deadline for a shortened season?
Posted by chockster on 12/13/12 at 02:49 PM ET