Thread: Loooong McKenzie article on possible realignment scenarios

So how do you like the idea of the top seed in each conference being able to choose their first round opponents?

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

So how do you like the idea of the top seed in each conference being able to choose their first round opponents?

Me Doc? I don't see them going that route, but it could lead to some pretty entertaining moments I would think, what with the whole process being bulletin board material for the team selected and such.

Originally Posted by Iron Duke

Me Doc? I don't see them going that route, but it could lead to some pretty entertaining moments I would think, what with the whole process being bulletin board material for the team selected and such.

Bill Simmonds always suggests the following idea for the NBA and I say the NHL should think about it too.....

1-7 in the Conference gets in the playoffs... the remaining 8 teams in each conference have concurrent three round single elimination tournaments for the 8th seed.

THAT'S wacky! And no team would ever be "out of it" and trying to wind down the season. Every fan base would be interested in the season right til the very end and every team would have a vested interest in playing their best hockey even if they found themselves at the bottom of the standings.

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

He lists Divisional Playoffs as a drawback.

**** that! I WANT Divisional Playoffs!

I love it, but fans of the mid-late 80's Winnipeg teams would have killed to get away from Edmonton almost every stinking year. I'd bet those 5 or 6 playoff losses played a huge part in the NHL changing that playoff format.

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

Bill Simmonds always suggests the following idea for the NBA and I say the NHL should think about it too.....

1-7 in the Conference gets in the playoffs... the remaining 8 teams in each conference have concurrent three round single elimination tournaments for the 8th seed.

THAT'S wacky! And no team would ever be "out of it" and trying to wind down the season. Every fan base would be interested in the season right til the very end and every team would have a vested interest in playing their best hockey even if they found themselves at the bottom of the standings.

From an entertainment standpoint, I can see the draw for sure. I guess I just don't really see the point of grinding out an 82 game schedule if almost every team will still be in it. That IS really freaking wacky though Doc!

I'm not a fan of divisional playoffs. I don't want to see the same teams in the playoffs year after year and when a team is doing real well, I don't want to see the same team emerge as the division playoff winner every year. I also love the idea of the conference winner being able to pick its opponent for the opening round.

It's time for the rivalry (remember those?) to return to the NHL. Divisional playoffs will get it done.

Here's my plan for playoff seedings.

1. You take Goal differential between the top 8 teams and subtract one from the other. For example, #1 San Jose has a GD of +50 and #8 St. Louis has a GD of +19. That means San Jose has a net gain of 31.
2. Each team has a shootout against each other with all 20 dressed players. The final score is added or subtracted from the result of #1. For example, St. Louis wins the shootout with 15 goals to 9. San Jose has a net gain of 25 now.
3. Jack Johnson's +/- is added to the #8 teams AGD (adjusted goal differential) if he finishes the season in the PLUS category (luuuuuuuuuuuuuulz) or subtracted from the #1 teams AGD if he finishes the season in the MINUS category. San Jose now has a net gain of +2 goals so they retain their #1 seed.

Or. . .they could just move Winnipeg to the West and Columbus to the East and keep things how they are until they decide to move Phoenix to KC.

I have to read the article and then all of your opinions, but I just wanted to say what a great word 're-jiggering' is and I want to have that word actually considered for inclusion in the next round of words added to the dictionary. Thanks Doc.