Sixteen teams, each of which must obtain 16 victories spread over four rounds in a best-of-seven-game series in order to lift the Stanley Cup. For almost four decades, this is the format that has been favored by the NHL. And that won’t change anytime soon.
The NHL is the only circuit, among the four major North American professional leagues, not to have expanded its playoff framework in recent years. It is satisfied with its current format and does not intend to add more teams, which could obtain their bye after taking part in one-off matches, for example, despite the numerous ongoing discussions on this subject.
“We don’t want to expand the scope of the playoffs,” commissioner Gary Bettman said ahead of the postseason series, which begins Saturday. We’re not interested in that. Our formula works very well. When you look at how our playoffs go, how many of them get to the sixth or seventh games, the level of intensity that comes with it, there’s nothing like it. »
Additionally, there is another advantage to the current format, according to Bettman. The regular season is important. Several players who have won the Stanley Cup in recent years have admitted that they prefer the status quo.
“We like what we know, I think,” admitted Trevor van Riemsdyk, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. “The regular season is important, and everything else follows. The 82-game schedule is very long, and very permissive, for teams wishing to make the playoffs. »
It’s been like this since 1987, and at the time 16 of the league’s 21 teams made the playoffs. Today, the NHL has 32 teams, and half of them participate in the spring tournament.
“I think we’re in a good place today in the NHL,” commented Pittsburgh Penguins forward Reilly Smith, who won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights last year. Parity is very real in this league, and 16 teams is enough. »
Smith believes that the playoffs are already demanding enough in their current format – it is, according to many, the most physically demanding tournament to win a championship – and adding additional games would downright threaten the safety of the players.
The situation could, however, change if the league continues to expand beyond 32 concessions. At least that’s the opinion of former Montreal Canadiens player and current Pittsburgh Penguins forward, Lars Eller.
“If we continue to add teams to this league, then I might be open to the idea of establishing some sort of pre-playoff tournament — that the top 20, or something like 14 to 20 clubs, compete for their playoff berth,” said Eller, who won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018. “It’s good, right now. Half of the teams qualify. But if we add other teams [à la ligue], so I feel like we should hand out a few more passes. »