The Easy Fix To The NHL's Playoff Format Problem.

Before the start of the 2013-14 season, the NHL decided it was time for league re-alignment where the league also decided they were going to shake up the playoff format. The NHL decided they were going to move toward a division-focused in both the east and west playoffs as opposed to the traditional; 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, and 4v5 seeded format. 

As stated on the NHL's website, this how the news is explained, "The format is a set bracket that is largely division-based with wild cards. The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season record and regardless of division".

When it was first put into action many fans were thrilled as it would enhance the opportunity of seeing classic playoff series with divisional rivals, and stars going at it on a year-to-year basis on the game's biggest stage.

More than a decade later, hockey fans seemed to be displeased, to say the least as it is forcing us to get a lot of the same matchups every spring. It also the elite teams face off against one another in the first round of the post-season, as opposed to the deeper rounds of the playoffs when you typically want your most competitive matchups as you get closer to the winning the greatest trophy in all of sports.

You are probably saying to yourself, "Why does the NHL not just go back to the old format?". Well, it may not be all up to the league offices. The NHL needs to work with its TV partners, and, it seems that the networks want the NHL to keep the bracketed style playoff as it allows the TV partners to be able to promote potential matchups in the easiest way possible because fans can know who would play who in the next round as opposed to the old re-seed after round 1 format.

In my opinion, the solution to this issue is staring the NHL straight in the face. Why do they not just use the NBA playoff format?

In the NBA's playoff format; 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5 in each conference in the first round but as opposed to re-seeding, the NBA keeps the 1v8 and 4v5 matchups on the same side of the bracket while on the other side of the bracket, you have the 2v7 and 3v6 matchups on the same side. This allows for the best teams in each conference to get more favorable matchups in at least the first round of the playoffs while also keeping the TV partners happy by keeping the playoffs bracketed so they can simply promote their future matchups.

Here is a look at the 2023 NBA Playoff Bracket for a better visual sense:

Sure, it probably wasn't fair that the West's number one seed Denver Nuggets had to face a four-seed in round two as opposed to a seven seed, but at least this format led to "easier" matchups in the first round for the elite teams in both conferences.

Sure, it probably wasn't fair that the West's number one seed Denver Nuggets had to face a four-seed in round two as opposed to a seven-seed, but at least this format led to "easier" matchups in the first round for the elite teams in both conferences.

Garry, if you're reading this, as a fan of the game, I want to see the best teams face off against each other in the deeper rounds of playoffs, and this is my suggestion to help fix the post-season, feel free to pitch this in your next meeting!

By: Aaron Silcoff