from Craig Custance of ESPN,
The NHL will never be confused with a league that is progressive, but if it were smart, it would look hard at some of these proposals submitted by hockey fans. They would dramatically change the spring landscape and make the hockey playoffs a must-watch not only for hockey fans but anyone who loves unscripted drama. And it wasn’t just fans who responded. We’ll begin with this submission via email from an NHL team executive:
“Glaring obvious suggestion: Expand season by four extra days. We just did it for 21, so it is pretty easy to do. In each conference, 10 teams make playoffs. No. 10 and No. 9 play a best-of-three series at No. 7 and No. 8. They have to win on the road to get in. Day off between games two and three. Right now (at time of email), four points separate 8 and 9 in the East and two points in the West. So it’s not exactly like we are significantly devaluing an eighth-place finish. From No. 7 to No. 9 in the East is five points and the West is nine points. So we may be unfairly treating the No. 7 seed there. But they still have home ice for three games.
"Right now, teams down to the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets in the West would be still be in. All of those teams, fans, and buildings would still be in the race. More regular season tickets sold as fans are still into it. Significant additional revenue/media. Possibility of major markets still getting in i.e. Toronto, Vancouver. Twelve additional games possible [if all series went three games], more significant additional revenue and media.”
This should be done immediately. The only downside is that the No. 7 seed could argue that it is devaluing the regular season, but the potential for three more home games and the millions that come with that should quiet any concerns from that franchise.
more playoff format ideas (paid subscription)...
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