Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on how the NHL should proceed with the playoffs if and when the 2019-20 campaign resumes.
Todd Cordell
If there is time to continue with this campaign at all, it will be limited. I think any hopes of the regular season coming to a natural conclusion have completely evaporated.
What I’d like to see is a play-in tournament from the 7-10 seeds in each conference. Let the teams that were in the heat of a playoff battle duke it out in a best-of-three series and sort out the playoff picture that way. Those games would certainly have a lot of eyes on them and generate a lot of revenue.
Heck, I’d even be fine with the rumored 24 team playoff picture. Normally I’d be against such a large field – it kind of defeats the purpose of a regular season – but a) it’d be fun as heck as a one-off and; b) it would keep more big markets in the mix to recoup lost dollars.
I don’t care if we see another game from teams like Detroit, New Jersey, Ottawa, Anaheim, LA, and co. We know what they are – bottom feeders – and it’d be complicated working all the teams into a revised schedule.
Create a play-in and do whatever there’s time for after that. If it has to be a best of 5, or best of 3 (then 5 in the later rounds) so be it.
Sean Maloughney
Determining how the playoffs should be decided, if there will indeed be any this season is on everyone's mind right now. Trying to figure out what a new format would be is based on plenty of assumptions, most importantly when the season will be allowed to continue.
First off there needs to be some normal games before any playoff games can be played. As of right now teams aren't allowed to even practice together; players need a chance to get back into game shape before throwing them into what should be the toughest games of the year.
Throw in another 5-7 games, rounding everyone up to 76 games. Essentially another two weeks of regular season hockey.
Once that is done, I would take the 4 wild cards teams from each conference and they would play a single game elimination. Once that is resolved you would once again have 8 playoff teams for each conference.
Using the Western Conference as an example, St Louis (with the most points) would play the lower finishing of the Wild Card teams and Vegas would play the other. Seed #2 and #3 would face off against each other as they normally would.
In terms of games, I think the first two rounds of the playoffs should be best of 5 scenarios with the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals being best of 7. Should this happen it could be end of June or even into July before everything is wrapped up.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
Recent posts
Best team in the Central?
Best team in the Pacific?
Best team in the Atlantic?
Best team in the Metro?
Thoughts on the Ondrej Kase trade?
Thoughts on the Tyler Toffoli trade?
Thoughts on the Blake Coleman trade?
Thoughts on the Jason Zucker trade?
Join the Discussion:
»