The NHL is expanding. It’s time for the playoff format to do the same
A team with a .325 point percentage once made the playoffs. Now, a .579 isn’t good enough.
The NHL, now comprised of 32 teams, maintains a playoff format with 16 teams, leaving half of the fan bases without postseason representation every year. This stagnant structure has caused a decline in hockey registrations, particularly in markets like Michigan where teams such as the Detroit Red Wings have not qualified for the playoffs since 2016.
Commissioner Gary Bettman defends the current playoff system, citing its popularity and the high-quality first round it generates. However, the author argues that the league should adopt a playoff expansion, similar to the NBA's play-in round, to increase the number of teams qualifying for the postseason and reignite fan hope. The author suggests a multi-game series for the play-in round, allowing more teams to compete and generating additional revenue for the league.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
