If the caps are truly the best team, then they should beat all comers, whether they play Pittsburgh in round 2 or whether they play Arizona.

I dont get all the whining about it. A) Youd have to play them sometime (likely).
B) This is doing you a favor. IF you waited until round 3--assuming both teams would get there--its likely that the Pens (except for Letang) would be fully healthy. The NHL playoff format is actually doing you a favor this year since you get to play the Pens without Murray, Letang, and Hagelin/Kunitz (for at least part of the series). Now you get to play the Pens with Fleury in goal. He's good for at least one soft goal a game, so there's that....

I didnt hear you Caps fans whine and complain when the weak Southwest division gave you a 3rd seed (when often the 4th and 5th seeds were better) in the old 1 vs 8 format.

If the players had to take normal domestic flights, I'd agree with you. But they go straight through security, get on a hotel-in-the-sky and chill. They sleep, eat, read, get some coaching done in the air, who knows.

Taking a private jet with your fellow sports team friends is about as stressful as a bath. Give me a break here, how is there going to be any advantage?

It's not exactly like they have to drive in a bus. This is a ridiculous and easy to shoot down objection to a completely common sense suggestion.
- James_Tanner

Have you done any research on this or asked the players opinion? Why do teams seem to suck the first game home after a long road trip?

Any sort of travel is taxing. Pressure changes, not to mention flying actually makes you burn water at an absurd rate. Comfortable seating and leg space do not make up for it.

If I was the first seed ducks and had to fly to Florida I would be extremely upset as its a clear advantage for a short traveled team in the second round. Being away from your family is mentally taxing.

Travel costs are huge, to implement 1v1 seeding means to play every team equally in the regular season. Which as absurd. If you do not do this you negate the legitimacy of 1v16 seeding. Escrow would grow exponentially. So many negative financial factors in this plan would severely correlate into a loss of product quality on this ice level.

Yes, in a hockey utopia this is a great idea with sever and just parity.Welcome to the one we live in. I agree the conferences and divisions can seem unfair. Sadly, it's inevitable.

Have you done any research on this or asked the players opinion? Why do teams seem to suck the first game home after a long road trip?
- mont23

Travel only affects poor people!!

As a Leafs fan, you should understand that watching playoff hockey is about more than your team.

Rivalries do matter, as does travel.

Don't show me travel for different series formats, that's just more of your bogus math.
- golfingsince

No offense, but this is pathetic.. "I disagree with you because but don't show me any arguments because it's bogus math"

Other than a sweet Bill and Ted reference, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I could parse this quote for hours - it makes no sense.

Have you done any research on this or asked the players opinion? Why do teams seem to suck the first game home after a long road trip?
- mont23

The key word here is "seem" if you investigated it, I am nearly certain the effects would prove to be overblown.

The key word here is "seem" if you investigated it, I am nearly certain the effects would prove to be overblown.
- James_Tanner

Sorry, I should have said - Why have I WITNESSED teams suck the first game home after a lengthy road trip?

Going 1-16 will do away with playoff rivalries to a large extent, and could further water down the product due to extensive travel.

Careful what you wish for.
- golfingsince

Wrg to rivalries - that's marketing nonsense. In the playoffs, you opponent is your current most hated rival.

Wrg to travel - with proper scheduling* the travel effects can be minimized.


*This will require the NHL to hire schedulers who know their ass from their elbow, but I think that's possible.

The key word here is "seem" if you investigated it, I am nearly certain the effects would prove to be overblown.
- James_Tanner

Would there be the same interest from fans of same an Eastern conference team that ended up playing LA, ANA and/or SJ ?

Wrg to rivalries - that's marketing nonsense. In the playoffs, you opponent is your current most hated rival.

Wrg to travel - with proper scheduling* the travel effects can be minimized.


*This will require the NHL to hire schedulers who know their ass from their elbow, but I think that's possible.
- Scoob

Last true rivalry in the playoffs was Col vs Det. Anyother rivalies of note im missing?

Sorry, I should have said - Why have I WITNESSED teams suck the first game home after a lengthy road trip?
- mont23

You've also witnessed lots of teams play fine after a long road trip, you just didn't remember because that doesn't confirm what you think to be true.

No offense, but this is pathetic.. "I disagree with you because but don't show me any arguments because it's bogus math"

Other than a sweet Bill and Ted reference, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I could parse this quote for hours - it makes no sense.
- James_Tanner

They aren't going to go to a 2-3-2 series format so that they can have Florida play Vancouver in the first round.

It makes far more sense to have Florida play Tampa and Vancouver play Calgary.

That way, fans can also travel. ( you know, part of the rivalry )

Boston vs the Habs is one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports because they face each other in the playoffs nearly every spring.

Maybe if you see the Leafs play the Sens or Habs in the playoffs in the next few years you'll appreciate this more.



Here's an idea, go back and see how often the top team from each conference points wise faces each other in the finals.

Wrg to rivalries - that's marketing nonsense. In the playoffs, you opponent is your current most hated rival.

Wrg to travel - with proper scheduling* the travel effects can be minimized.


*This will require the NHL to hire schedulers who know their ass from their elbow, but I think that's possible.
- Scoob

wrong to travel, unless we extend the season into july.

wrong to rivalries, see Habs/Bruins

Any sort of travel is taxing. Pressure changes, not to mention flying actually makes you burn water at an absurd rate. Comfortable seating and leg space do not make up for it.

If I was the first seed ducks and had to fly to Florida I would be extremely upset as its a clear advantage for a short traveled team in the second round. Being away from your family is mentally taxing.

Travel costs are huge, to implement 1v1 seeding means to play every team equally in the regular season. Which as absurd. If you do not do this you negate the legitimacy of 1v16 seeding. Escrow would grow exponentially. So many negative financial factors in this plan would severely correlate into a loss of product quality on this ice level.

Yes, in a hockey utopia this is a great idea with sever and just parity.Welcome to the one we live in. I agree the conferences and divisions can seem unfair. Sadly, it's inevitable.
- MarkStoned

good post too bad tanner will skip right over it

Why not just allow the top 4 teams in each conference pick who they would like to play in round 1..

The east would look like this... Wash picks first, then Pitt, then Columbus... etc until all teams have matchups...

That way if you in the presidents trophy you can play against any playoff team in your division you want...

As for how the rest of the playoffs look, someone who gets paid to figure that out can decide.. but overall it gives the #1 seed the biggest advantage.. Plus the media would love it.. Losing to a team you picked to play against would be awesome.

Last true rivalry in the playoffs was Col vs Det. Anyother rivalies of note im missing?
- rrentz

bruins habs

wrong to travel, unless we extend the season into july.

wrong to rivalries, see Habs/Bruins
- golfingsince

Great. Then go 1-8 in each conference. The point is that the current system sucks.

PS: wrg = with regards to, not wrong

Why not just allow the top 4 teams in each conference pick who they would like to play in round 1..

The east would look like this... Wash picks first, then Pitt, then Columbus... etc until all teams have matchups...

That way if you in the presidents trophy you can play against any playoff team in your division you want...

As for how the rest of the playoffs look, someone who gets paid to figure that out can decide.. but overall it gives the #1 seed the biggest advantage.. Plus the media would love it.. Losing to a team you picked to play against would be awesome.
- Hojo220

It's kind of a fun idea. Letting the #1 seed pick their opponent each round would add all sorts of excitement, and it's the kind of unusual, fun idea that will piss people off for no reason.

Awesome idea.

Wouldn't Washington receive more credit for knocking off the likes of Toronto and Pitt and going on to win the cup? I just think that Washington gets so much crap for not making it passed the 2nd round, that if they had a free ride people would turn around and say that their run was "devalued" bc it was easy. Let them take the hard road and either silence the haters, or flop.

Youve said it yourself JT, so much parity that the 8th seed isn't like it used to be. There are no pushover teams. Not to mention, I don't think 1 of NY or Ott just takes a step aside and allows Washington, or Pitt, to run away with it. I agree with the lack of talent after Pittt, but it the Stanley Cup. These guys turn in to animals. Let's all just enjoy it.

bruins habs
- mrn22

Historically, yes, but when is the last time both these teams played eachother when they were both making a run for the cup?

Just remember about what they say about people who express themselves with pictures.
- James_Tanner

Express yo' self

Wait, so your idea is to have a 40 game exhibition season that doesn't even count? That is terrible.
- JamesTanner

That wasn't his idea. His idea actually makes sense, though it would never fly.

The teams that make the playoffs do so based on the standings for the full year. Seeding is then based on standings from Feb 1st, removing bonus points for shootouts. I'd remove the bonus point for OT wins too, as I'm sure you'd agree, it's not meaningful when ranking teams for playoffs.

While I agree that the travel is not a huge deal, I would still prefer it to be 2 conferences seeded 1-8.

Toronto barely even made the playoffs. The Caps were first. There is no scenario where the best team would not play the worst team that would improve things.

Wouldn't Washington receive more credit for knocking off the likes of Toronto and Pitt and going on to win the cup? I just think that Washington gets so much crap for not making it passed the 2nd round, that if they had a free ride people would turn around and say that their run was "devalued" bc it was easy. Let them take the hard road and either silence the haters, or flop.

Youve said it yourself JT, so much parity that the 8th seed isn't like it used to be. There are no pushover teams. Not to mention, I don't think 1 of NY or Ott just takes a step aside and allows Washington, or Pitt, to run away with it. I agree with the lack of talent after Pittt, but it the Stanley Cup. These guys turn in to animals. Let's all just enjoy it.
- bigjersey3

Yeah fair point. I'm not saying I won't enjoy it. I am just saying it's stupid to have a system that makes certain combinations of teams impossible to play for the Cup.

Before the season even started everyone knew that the Cup Final could not feature the NHL's two best teams. I can't be alone in seeing that is shooting yourself in the foot for no reason.