At least that’s what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman thinks about the league’s current playoff structure.
From once including 16 of 21 total teams in the league’s post-season, Bettman believes the NHL’s current 16 of 32 ratio creates the best situation for both regular season and playoff games. The NHL’s commissioner of nearly 30 years isn’t interested in altering anything simply for the sake of change. “The standard is the standard. It’s not a regular-season standard, it’s not a playoff standard,” Bettman said. We continue … to reinforce to the officials, ‘We want you to call the NHL standard.’ And that standard is to reinforce speed and skill and the officials are doing that.”
I like how the officiating is better this year. The structure of the brackets matters less to me.
Sportnet just inconsolable at the fact their beloved leafs have to play a good team. Its the playoffs. And its good hockey. Quit whining.
This league needs a new face!
As long as USA teams win Bettman is thrilled
The only change I'd make is getting rid of the wild card and going with the top 4 in each division. Make it a true divisional playoff like it was from 82 to 93. With 32 teams now, bad teams won't make the playoff like they did back then. That's the best format.
It's terrible
It’s broken.
Well it is broken, just in that it needs to be 1-8
And if it ain't fair why care.
Every team in the east would disagree
Dude just use the NBA playoff system but with no playin tournament. That would be best thing for nhl
Boo i miss the old school1-8, 2-7 etc
Right on NHL's NY Rat Weasel boy! It's great having 2 or 3 knocked out 1st round everywhere. Makes exciting later rounds. Wait - no it often doesn't. Sportsnet's CCpxpSN 's non PxP - instead - old esoteric stat verbal diarrhea during play is - riveting! 🛌💤
Get rid of the wild card and go purely divisional until the conference finals
IT IS BROKE
Good
It's soooooo broken. You are getting top teams playing against each other in the first round. I call that broken. Should be 1 vs 8 like it used to be.
But IT IS broken and needs to go back to the 1 to 8
Travel is pricey but I'd love to see 1v16, 2v15, etc. Mix it up with a chance for classic rivals to play for a Cup. And of course the NHL will kill itself before having an all west coast final.
Maybe look into better officiating
Ask him about goalie interference
miss how it used to be when it was Top 8 in the conference without all this divisional BS. give the advantage to the best teams not the team with the raiser division!
Well he’s also a skin changer, so … grain of salt
Well, it's broken.