James Tanner: Does Penguins / Capitals in the Second Round Devalue the Stanley Cup?

reading this blog just made me do this

There is no flaws, excellent work from the smartest guy on the site!

If it would end up being 1 v 16, then what is your suggestion for the league set up? There doesn't seem to be a need for conferences or divisions under this system.


I wouldn't mind retaining conferences and divisions, but going to a 1-8 format seeded by points with re-seeding in each round. Maybe give a division winner home ice for at least 1 round, so the worst a division winner could be is 4th seed.

I do agree on 1 x 16 format - would love to see that -

on the Ducks - although not a fan at all of the RC hiring he has for the most part turned me around this yr - you should actually delve a bit deeper into how he has evolved - handled all the youngsters - so much made of the Leafs playing all these rookies and for sure they did however rookie forwards are one thing but multiple rookie D men are a whole different animal and he handled it beautifully - along with serious injuries to key players - and integrated the Best deadline pickup Eaves into the lineup seamlessly -

I could taste the salt in this blog.

Fully agree. We should at least be 1 to 8. 1 to 16 does make for some travel difficulties from east coast to West Coast in vice versa. But regardless, this is ridiculous that the two best teams and they are the two best teams, play each other at this stage of the playoffs.

Regardless the caps and pens were likely to meet at some point in any scenario. If ovie and the caps can finally beat the pens, i am still not convinced they don't choke on the rangers or ducks. The ducks are playing some of the best hockey right now. To start whining about seeding already seems to me to suggest that there is a built in excuse all ready to go.

Fully agree. We should at least be 1 to 8. 1 to 16 does make for some travel difficulties from east coast to West Coast in vice versa. But regardless, this is ridiculous that the two best teams and they are the two best teams, play each other at this stage of the playoffs.
- jackzack87

Meh, the battle of Alberta had this happen a pile of times.

Regardless the caps and pens were likely to meet at some point in any scenario. If ovie and the caps can finally beat the pens, i am still not convinced they don't choke on the rangers or ducks. The ducks are playing some of the best hockey right now. To start whining about seeding already seems to me to suggest that there is a built in excuse all ready to go.
- taleisyreXIII

exactly

my girl doesn't like hockey

Playoffs should stay largely the same...

The thing you first want to implement to tinker with playoff standings is creating a quasi-standings based on a team's performance starting in February or starting after the all star (waste of time) week-end.

The standings would be based SOLELY on winning percentages (SOs count as tie) against the teams that ended up in the playoffs.

You'd then have a more accurate power matchup rather than using games in October to determine how good a team is in April.

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.

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

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

What extensive travel? If you go 2-3-2 you eliminate a couple plane rides and it's hardly a big deal. If Toronto to Sanjose is a 7.5 hour flight, and Toronto to Fla is a 3 hour flight, but if you don't have the series go 2-2-1-1-1 its not much more.

Plus travel is luxerious and isn't going to hurt the quality of the hockey. That's preposterous. The idea that travel is a problem of a 1-16 matchup is pretty lazy actually.

As for rivalries, they are manufactured for the most part. Pittsburgh Washington is a rivalry because they've both been good for so long. But I can tell you that after a decade of crap, Toronto vs Buffalo isn't very intense.

Trust me, if your team is the Cup Final, you don't give a crap about rivalries. You care about winning. Toronto and Washington have no rivalry, but it was a way better series than Toronto vs Ottawa.

Honestly, talk of travel and rivalries makes me think Bettman has gotten to you. Full brainwashing in effect.

reading this blog just made me do this


- jimbro83

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

Yes, because the Caps did so well under the old format too.

And the travel aspect cannot be overlooked or underestimated in the 1-16 format.

Example:
If EDM plays FLA (the longest distance possible, I believe), the team that draws either of them in the next round would have a distinct advantage. Especially, if EDM advances to take on the Rangers who disposed of the Islanders.

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

It's an animated GIF, not a picture.

And the travel aspect cannot be overlooked or underestimated in the 1-16 format.

Example:
If EDM plays FLA (the longest distance possible, I believe), the team that draws either of them in the next round would have a distinct advantage. Especially, if EDM advances to take on the Rangers who disposed of the Islanders.
- mont23

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.

It's an animated GIF, not a picture.
- Tanuki

Wow you must have been a blast at that one party you accidentally crashed.

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

says the guy who thinks the Cup is "devalued this year"

Yes, because the Caps did so well under the old format too.
- mdw7413

I get the point that the two top point getters in the league playing eachother in the second round isnt optimal, but what's the difference if they meet up one round later. Im sure whoever meets the Pitt/Cap winner will more than put up a fight. How'd it work out for Chi playing the 8 seed?


Who cares. Just play the games against who you are matched up against and beat them, regardless of the round

This hockey purest talking points is getting old. How bout we talk about the next round , and move on from this tired talking point , that has been set for the last couple of years now. Topic for offseason

I get the point that the two top point getters in the league shouldnt be playing eachother in the second round, but what's the difference if they meet up one round later. Im sure whoever meets the Pitt/Cap winner will more than put up a fight. How'd it work out for Chi playing the 8 seed?
- rrentz

Yup, Tanner makes a good point about the new format which a lot of us don't like.

Then ruins it with the "devalued cup".

What extensive travel? If you go 2-3-2 you eliminate a couple plane rides and it's hardly a big deal. If Toronto to Sanjose is a 7.5 hour flight, and Toronto to Fla is a 3 hour flight, but if you don't have the series go 2-2-1-1-1 its not much more.

Plus travel is luxerious and isn't going to hurt the quality of the hockey. That's preposterous. The idea that travel is a problem of a 1-16 matchup is pretty lazy actually.

As for rivalries, they are manufactured for the most part. Pittsburgh Washington is a rivalry because they've both been good for so long. But I can tell you that after a decade of crap, Toronto vs Buffalo isn't very intense.

Trust me, if your team is the Cup Final, you don't give a crap about rivalries. You care about winning. Toronto and Washington have no rivalry, but it was a way better series than Toronto vs Ottawa.

Honestly, talk of travel and rivalries makes me think Bettman has gotten to you. Full brainwashing in effect.
- James_Tanner

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.