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The NHL and NHLPA are working on a 24-team conference-based playoff setup, multiple sources have indicated to @FriedgeHNIC.https://t.co/XoZqgMjqH0
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2020
The top four seeds (based on points percentage) in the East would be Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. Top four in the West would be St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas.
They would receive byes through the play-in, but participate in a three-game tournament to get some action. I confess I’m not certain of all the details on if or how it would affect playoff seeding.
The rest of the playoffs would be “bracketed.” That means, in both conferences 5 vs. 12 (winner plays four seed), 6 vs. 11 (winner plays three seed), 7 vs. 10 (winner plays two seed) and 8 vs. 9 (winner plays one seed).
So that would mean an opening round of: Pittsburgh/Montreal; Carolina/Rangers; Islanders/Florida and Toronto/Columbus in the East and Edmonton/Chicago; Nashville/Arizona; Vancouver/Minnesota; Calgary/Winnipeg in the West.
The play-in series would be a best-of-five. The rest of the playoffs would be best-of-seven.
Column: On Carey Price's outsized influence on summer return format, potential escrow cap with CBA extension, and myriad issues outstanding in NHL restart attempt. https://t.co/oA0Tzl0ghV via @nypostsports
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) May 20, 2020
For it is largely due to the remarkable reputation of Carey Price among his peers that much talk about the format of what appears to be a summer 24-team tournament has fixated on how unfair it would be to face Price in a best-of-three, multiple sources report.
We are told there is growing support for a best-of-five first round that would, to a degree, temper the impact of a hot goaltender in a short series.
Much of the discussion, as well, has regarded escrow and the possibility of extending the collective bargaining agreement that expires following 2021-22. The Post has learned that the parties have discussed the concept of placing a cap on escrow as part of an extension. Under terms of the current CBA, the players are responsible for making up the 2019-20 carryover escrow next year. The players would obviously prefer to extend the payment over multiple seasons.
We’re told the anticipated escrow cap offer would be higher than 25 percent. The parties have been preoccupied with the escrow issue at the expense of give-and-take on other CBA-related matters.