April 10, 200521 yr The NHL has increased the number of teams that can now make the playoffs each year to 20 teams, this is probably to help build up the fanbases in teams which normally don't make the playoffs or are fringe teams every year. For any NHL team that loses out in the Sidney Crosby draft lottery, they can always look on the bright side - it's going to be much easier to make the playoffs when the league finally resumes play. That's because, aside from the intrigue of what the entry draft order of selection will be, the most interesting news coming out of the GMs' meeting in Detroit on Friday is that it is highly likely the number of playoff teams is going to grow from 16 to 20. The GMs seem to generally like the idea put forward by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday. The NHL governors, who actually call the shot, absolutely love it, so you can be reasonably sure 20 of the NHL's 30 franchises will see some playoff action when the Stanley Cup is next contested. The potential new format is being dubbed as a "play in" to the playoffs. The top 10 teams in each conference would make the playoffs. There would be a preliminary "play-in" round in each conference, seeing the 7th seed play the 10th and the 8th play the 9th in a best of three series. The two winners would then join the top six seeds in the "traditional" eight-team conference playoff. As for the draft lottery, there was all sorts of talk after the meeting about a stormy debate on how best to proceed. In actual fact, one NHL GM made an impassioned plea to do the lottery one way but before any debate could take place, Bettman shut it down. He basically told the GMs how it was going to be. It will be a weighted lottery. The teams that have missed the playoffs for the last three or four years will have a better chance to get the first pick overall, but all 30 teams will be in the running. Non-playoff entities like Columbus and the New York Rangers will have a better chance of winning the lottery than, say, Detroit or Colorado, but everyone will have some shot at the top pick. And keep in mind, as good a chance as a team like Columbus may have compared to a team like Detroit, the field has a better chance of winning than the franchise that gets weighted as No. 1. The NHL hasn't decided yet when to conduct the lottery -- it could happen before the lockout is over; it could be put off until a new CBA is in place -- but two things we do know. Whichever team gets the first pick overall won't pick again until No. 60, and the team that gets the 30th pick will pick again at 31. Also, all traded or transferred draft choices will be in effect for the next draft, so if your favourite team traded away its first-round pick in 2005, kiss Sidney goodbye right now -- even if your team wins the lottery. General Managers were also told they're going to be going into a new, more open universe as far as the media is concerned, specifically rights holders and those who present the NHL game on television. General Managers viewed a video presentation on the more "open policy" of Major League Baseball, the National Football League and NASCAR as far as pre-game, in-game and post-game interviews and dialogue and access with players and coaches. GMs were told whether they like it or not, the time has come for the NHL to be much more open and innovative with its game presentation. As for a CBA update, Bettman and NHLPA boss Bob Goodenow met for 40 minutes on Thursday night -- not three hours. They agreed the two sides will get together next week sometime and we'll find out then whether the NHLPA concept of a floating salary range tied to league revenues will get some real traction. The NHL likes the NHLPA concept. The league doesn't like the big gap between floor and ceiling, believed to be about $20 million, and thinks the ceiling is too high. Number crunching next week will determine whether this has a legitimate chance to fly. For TSN.ca, I'm Bob McKenzie. http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp
April 10, 200521 yr Someone explain to me why 1/3 of the topics on the front page of this board are hockey related, when there is no hockey?
April 10, 200521 yr This makes sense considering the NBA's success with bad teams making the playoffs. Look how awesome their TV ratings are. Oh wait, they suck, however, this is all moot when one considers the fact that NHL playoffs might not happen until I can legally drink.
April 10, 200521 yr Great... water down the one good thing about the NHL. Why stop at 20? Why not let everyone in? I mean you are already leatting 2/3 of your teams in, why stop there?
April 10, 200521 yr as a panthers fan, it kind of makes me wonder, i mean, if they haven't traded away their 2005 pick then they'd have to have a pretty good shot
April 10, 200521 yr um.... so what exactly is the point of the regular season when 2/3 of the teams makes the playoffs, maybe more if any teams (which will happen) are eliminated. the nhl really is stupider than i thought. not that it matters, not like hockey is coming back.
April 10, 200521 yr I actually like it...those 3 game series would be pretty intense 736212[/snapback] Yes it would. I like it, it gives the NHL more playoff games.
April 10, 200521 yr cmon NHL why make all these announcements when you dont have a season? the regular season is meaningless already and now theyre expanding the playoffs. how stupid
April 10, 200521 yr this is all moot when one considers the fact that NHL playoffs might not happen until I can legally drink. 736165[/snapback] Coincidence? I think not. Someone up there is watching out for you.
April 10, 200521 yr this is all moot when one considers the fact that NHL playoffs might not happen until I can legally drink. 736165[/snapback] Coincidence? I think not. Someone up there is watching out for you. 736328[/snapback] I think I'd have to be pretty tanked to watch the NHL.
April 10, 200521 yr Author You guys just aren't looking into this enough. In the orixing six, 4 teams made the playoffs. They also had 16 teams in the playoffs BEFORE the last round of expansion. This is just getting back to where they used to be in terms of the percentage of teams who make the playoffs. What i'm pissed about though is that a team like the Rangers who sucked and have no business making the playoffs the last 3 years would have gotten in a few times in the 10 spot. This change promotes mediocracy as teams would not have to battle as hard to get in. The good thing is that the bottom four teams would be playing each other, so you wouldn't have totally one sided matchups in the first round. Playoffs are the most exciting time of the year, they're trying to prolong it. I have no problem with this change, as long as they shorten the season. I think the 65-70 game mark would be great. The biggest issue here is they aren't reducing the regular season while still making the playoffs longer.
April 10, 200521 yr It just waters down the best thing about hockey. Plus it will give mediocore teams more of a reason to stay mediocore. "We made the playoffs, who cares we were the 10th seed, we don't need to pour money in, we're a perennial 10th seeder." Maybe the NBA should try this next. :plain
April 10, 200521 yr The problem with this is that the regular season is already pretty miserable because no one tries hard. This is another one of those quick fixes that will generate more revenue in the short-term, but ultimately hurt the sport in the long term.
April 10, 200521 yr this is all moot when one considers the fact that NHL playoffs might not happen until I can legally drink. 736165[/snapback] Coincidence? I think not. Someone up there is watching out for you. 736328[/snapback] I think I'd have to be pretty tanked to watch the NHL. 736341[/snapback] Classic
April 10, 200521 yr You guys just aren't looking into this enough. In the orixing six, 4 teams made the playoffs. They also had 16 teams in the playoffs BEFORE the last round of expansion. This is just getting back to where they used to be in terms of the percentage of teams who make the playoffs. What i'm pissed about though is that a team like the Rangers who sucked and have no business making the playoffs the last 3 years would have gotten in a few times in the 10 spot. This change promotes mediocracy as teams would not have to battle as hard to get in. The good thing is that the bottom four teams would be playing each other, so you wouldn't have totally one sided matchups in the first round. Playoffs are the most exciting time of the year, they're trying to prolong it. I have no problem with this change, as long as they shorten the season. I think the 65-70 game mark would be great. The biggest issue here is they aren't reducing the regular season while still making the playoffs longer. 736703[/snapback] and people wonder why the nhl was no longer considered part of the 'big 3' before this lockout.
April 10, 200521 yr It doesn't matter...the Panthers will still find a way to miss out. Personally, I thought that hockey was already allowing way too many teams into the playoffs, when you compare it to any of the other leagues, with the exception of the NBA.
April 11, 200521 yr Doesn't that just show how much the teams that don't make it suck? Why not let everyone in? And then, let everyone win the Stanley Cup :plain
April 11, 200521 yr Why bother playing the regular season. The vast majority of baseball playoff series are great and well played because only 4 teams from each league can earn the right to get in. Plus, it essentially adds a month and a half extra playoffs in at least 1 or 2 divisions a year as teams fight for the right just to get to the playoffs. The NHL and the NBA's playoff races are fake, they are essentially just fighting for seeding. Yawn.
April 12, 200521 yr I like the idea -- The regular season will still have alot of merit because no team is going to want to play in the "play-in" round. its alot like the NFL has with the bye week and teams playing for home field advantage It's smart for a struggling league though...teams that might not have made the playoffs before (Panthers) now have a greater chance to expose the casual fan to the most exciting playoffs in sports. Players dont get paid during the playoffs so its also a TON of extra revenue for the NHL.
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