NHL now leans towards new playoff scenario!

There are quite a few options on the table as the NHL discusses the possibility of resuming play and get the postseason going, however, it is believed that the league is now leaning toward an unprecedented 24-team playoff format if the 2019-20 season resumes.

Pierre LeBrun explained the plan on Thursday’s Insider Trading on TSN. 

“I’m told that 16, 20 and 24 were again talked about as options. But of those three from talking to people around the league both on the team side and also on the players’ side, 24 teams seems to be gathering a bit of traction. The idea of a playoff format with 24 teams. 

“Now, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve spoken to some people who said well suddenly 24 teams that means you bring in a Montreal on the eastern side, you bring in Chicago on the west, the two 12th-place teams. Those two teams were sellers at the trade deadline and now you’re inviting them in potentially to a playoff play-in. It’s not for everyone. There’s going to be debate right until the end here but what we’re really seeing is the idea that after really really wanting to play out the regular season and involving all 31 teams, that perhaps those bottom-seven teams, who clearly wouldn’t have a lot of motivation to come back and play some regular season games and then shut it down again, might be discarded which would be just fine with them. But again, let me stress. Nothing is decided. These are just the conversations that are being had between both sides this week.”

While the format’s specifics aren’t entirely known, it appears that it would eliminate the need to finish the regular season, which Darren Dreger pointed out on Insider Trading. 

“You could easily adopt a play-in format that trims 24 down to the traditional 16 playoff teams. And by doing that you don’t have regular season games. You have three to six play-in games. And that means you can get through the process more quickly. And the reason behind that would be the preparation for a second wave of COVID-19. If the NHL once again has to shut down in September, maybe October, maybe drift into November, there’s a built-in break, and then they reset and get going on the 2020-21 season again as late as December.”

LeBrun added that no decisions have been made and that these are just part of the discussions between the league and the Players’ association. 
The NHL is reportedly hoping to open its team facilities in late May to kick off Phase 2 of its plan to return to the ice in order to crown a Stanley Cup champion in 2020.