NHL Playoffs need to be shorter with less teams

[cboth686 0]

This is one of the things that bugs me the most about the NHL.

Anaheim mucks through a regular season, half unconscious, slips into a playoff seed, and turns on the jets.

Now, they have the possibility of knocking off two teams that had 26 more points than them, (SJ), and another team that had 21 more points than them, (DET).

If the format resembled something like baseball, OR, something like football with a wild card, teams who don't even deserve to have a shot against superior teams (throughout the season) wouldn't occur.

Either way, I still love the Stanley Cup playoffs, I love how its a grind, that's what makes it the hardest trophy to win.

BUT

What is the regular season worth when teams can take games off? Nill.

[Reds4Life 51]

Are you kidding? Or are you high?

[Jake Ryan 1]

This is one of the things that bugs me the most about the NHL.

Anaheim mucks through a regular season, half unconscious, slips into a playoff seed, and turns on the jets.

Now, they have the possibility of knocking off two teams that had 26 more points than them, (SJ), and another team that had 21 more points than them, (DET).

If the format resembled something like baseball, OR, something like football with a wild card, teams who don't even deserve to have a shot against superior teams (throughout the season) wouldn't occur.

Either way, I still love the Stanley Cup playoffs, I love how its a grind, that's what makes it the hardest trophy to win.

BUT

What is the regular season worth when teams can take games off? Nill.

I just think the games need to be called fairly and the rules need to be enforced. Forwards 7-12 of the Ducks should not be allowed to hook the crap out of all the skill players on the Wings, and the goalie for the Ducks shouldn't be allowed to wear equipment twice the size of all the other goaltenders in the league. It's ridiculous looking at the way the two goaltenders play.

[Yak19 303]

******* joke of a loss tonight but...

close this ******* thread!

[cboth686 0]

Are you kidding? Or are you high?

Neither, I'm serious. You're not kidding that you like seeing 8th seeded teams play half hearted all year to be rewarded with a shot at lord stanley

[dat's sick 1,002]

If anything it's the regular season that needs to be shorter.

[Reds4Life 51]

Neither, I'm serious. You're not kidding that you like seeing 8th seeded teams play half hearted all year to be rewarded with a shot at lord stanley

That's why there's playoffs, Wings/Sharks are much better team than the Ducks, but if they are not willing to drive the net, battle for pucks, get their noses dirty..in short WORK HARD then Wings do not deserve to advance past this inferior Ducks team.

[Duckette 0]

Neither, I'm serious. You're not kidding that you like seeing 8th seeded teams play half hearted all year to be rewarded with a shot at lord stanley

But if that's the logic, there will always be a bottom seed. You'll soon say it's not fair for the 6th seed or the 4th seed. There's always someone who is in last place. I love the way the playoffs are, because things like this can happen. Isn't that what makes the NHL playoffs so great anyways?

How many people watched the Carolina/Edmonton series just because Edmonton was the 8th seed and no other team had done that? A lot of people I know watched it and they aren't in to hockey (before you make a comment, I live in Florida, not SoCal). That's part of what makes the NHL playoffs intense, because anyone can win.

[cboth686 0]

But if that's the logic, there will always be a bottom seed. You'll soon say it's not fair for the 6th seed or the 4th seed. There's always someone who is in last place. I love the way the playoffs are, because things like this can happen. Isn't that what makes the NHL playoffs so great anyways?

How many people watched the Carolina/Edmonton series just because Edmonton was the 8th seed and no other team had done that? A lot of people I know watched it and they aren't in to hockey (before you make a comment, I live in Florida, not SoCal). That's part of what makes the NHL playoffs intense, because anyone can win.

Yeah I understand what you're saying, and I agree, it does make it exciting.

The problem is is that over HALF of each conference makes the playoffs, thats a little ridiculous. Maybe I'm just too used to cheering for a team that is always top3 in the conference.

[Duckette 0]

Yeah I understand what you're saying, and I agree, it does make it exciting.

The problem is is that over HALF of each conference makes the playoffs, thats a little ridiculous. Maybe I'm just too used to cheering for a team that is always top3 in the conference.

Haha, and I'm used to cheering for a team that's bottom 3 (except for past two years). And you also got to remember that the 8 teams on each is done so that each round works. You can't just get rid of two teams. The series would be unequal.

[cboth686 0]

Haha, and I'm used to cheering for a team that's bottom 3 (except for past two years). And you also got to remember that the 8 teams on each is done so that each round works. You can't just get rid of two teams. The series would be unequal.

I understand that I'm just sick of seeing teams like columbus come out to get slaughtered in round 1. it's embarrassing for them and for wasting detroits time.

I wanna jump right into the best vs. the best. the meat of the action

I suppose anaheim IS one of the best in the west, they just don't deserve to be playing in this post season.

Flat out, the regular season needs to mean something and right now, it doesn't mean enough.

[Duckette 0]

I understand that I'm just sick of seeing teams like columbus come out to get slaughtered in round 1. it's embarrassing for them and for wasting detroits time.

I wanna jump right into the best vs. the best. the meat of the action

I suppose anaheim IS one of the best in the west, they just don't deserve to be playing in this post season.

Flat out, the regular season needs to mean something and right now, it doesn't mean enough.

No, I agree. Anaheim doesn't deserve to be in these playoffs. I'm not going to lie, I was just happy that the Ducks made it there. I didn't expect them to beat SJ, let alone in 6. I never expected them to be leading the series with Detroit, let alone win one in the Joe. But, when everyone from Seed 6 down did not so hot.... you know what I'm saying?

[cboth686 0]

No, I agree. Anaheim doesn't deserve to be in these playoffs. I'm not going to lie, I was just happy that the Ducks made it there. I didn't expect them to beat SJ, let alone in 6. I never expected them to be leading the series with Detroit, let alone win one in the Joe. But, when everyone from Seed 6 down did not so hot.... you know what I'm saying?

yeah i understand

[pavyaz19 1]

The NHL playoffs are the real "happ... happiest time of the year" for me... if it were one minute shorter, I'd flip out.

Cinderella teams are meant to be around... this is why the BCS doesn't work in college football. We all crave the playoffs.

To think the MLB has done it right? Yikes, I'm glad you're not the commissioner. (Oh crap, don't take that as support for Bettman, it wasn't!)

[#19forPresident! 1]

I see your point but it won't happen.

If you let a s*** 8th seed beat you at No.1 you deserve to mope over it all summer IMO.

[TheOwl 77]

Neither, I'm serious. You're not kidding that you like seeing 8th seeded teams play half hearted all year to be rewarded with a shot at lord stanley

What? Man that makes no sense. San Jose played badly, they lost. If the Wings keep playing badly, they'll be out as well. Everyone loves an underdog, but Detroit will seal it's own fate, and if Anaheim eliminates them, blame the Wings. Don't blame the refs and that horrible call, don't blame the structure. It is the way it is.

Don't even mention the NFL play-offs. They make ZERO sense.

Edited May 6, 2009 by TheOwl

[timothy1997 0]

the stanley cup playoffs are the toughest playoff format of the major 4 sports to win. It is a 2 month war. Plus if it was shorter, the bruises wouldnt be as black and the beards wouldnt be as long.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Neither, I'm serious. You're not kidding that you like seeing 8th seeded teams play half hearted all year to be rewarded with a shot at lord stanley

How will this be any different than if the NHL were to cut down to 6 teams per conference?

If this is our concern, we've got bigger problems.

[lets go pavel 2]

Unless I'm mistaken, wasn't Anaheim one of the hottest teams in the league during the second half of the season? Everyone wrote them off, then they scratched their way back into it. They absolutely deserve to have a shot, and their play so far only confirms this.

Apart from this, imagine what the regular season would be like if only eight teams made the playoffs? Many more teams would have nothing to play for by January ... it would be like baseball, occasionally you get a good down-to-the-wire race between 2 teams, but the majority of the teams are going through the motions by July.

[shoe 165]

I get your point but playoffs are a money maker good luck trying to pass that bill

[BlakChamber 8]

I get your point but playoffs are a money maker good luck trying to pass that bill

Bingo. That's the reason we won't see shorter playoffs.

[Hank 0]

I think the number of teams and games per round are fine.

However, I do believe that the season needs to be shortened to 70 games.

The Wings look lethargic and tired. I don't care what others think, I believe it's from the long playoff run last season.

The Ducks got bounced first round last year and it was due to the same effect.

In the end, the long schedule and grueling playoff runs needed to win equate to two of the better teams being worn out in April of the next year, robbing fans of great hockey with great teams.

I'd love to see how this matchup would play out if both teams were well rested from a shortened season. They're arguably the two best teams in the West but we're not seeing the best from the Wings due to tired legs and minds.

The same thing is happening to Pittsburgh, to an extent, as guys like Malkin and Sykora look like they're skating in mud.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

This is such a dumb idea. WOW, why would you even start this thread?

[T.Low 1,011]

If anything it's the regular season that needs to be shorter.

[vangvace 12]

This is one of the things that bugs me the most about the NHL.

Anaheim mucks through a regular season, half unconscious, slips into a playoff seed, and turns on the jets.

Now, they have the possibility of knocking off two teams that had 26 more points than them, (SJ), and another team that had 21 more points than them, (DET).

If the format resembled something like baseball, OR, something like football with a wild card, teams who don't even deserve to have a shot against superior teams (throughout the season) wouldn't occur.

Either way, I still love the Stanley Cup playoffs, I love how its a grind, that's what makes it the hardest trophy to win.

BUT

What is the regular season worth when teams can take games off? Nill.

You are aware that 16 teams have been in the NHL playoffs since the 79-80 season when the league only had 21 teams right?

Or that during the "Original 6" period, four of the six teams went to the playoffs?

Or that during '68 expansion saw 8 of 12 teams advancing to the playoffs?

That is the beautiful thing about the NHL playoffs, anybody has a chance to win the whole damn thing. If it were just the tops seeds that were contenders we might as well start shooting baskets.