NHL Insights: Playoff Format, All-Star Weekend, and More

Welcome to another edition of NHL Insights instead of looking at teams we are looking at hot topics coming out of NHL All-Star Weekend including the talk of the Stanley Cup Playoff Format, the All-Star Game itself, and Gary Bettman’s 30 years as Commissioner.

A new season means NHL Insights has returned. The annual NHL All-Star Weekend in South Florida has come and gone. Outside of the game and skills competition itself, which we will get to later, there were some topics that came out of the weekend that are generating some steam. The idea of a Stanley Cup Playoff format change going back to 1-8. In addition, tweaks to All-Star Weekend itself, along with Gary Bettman being Commissioner for 30 years and much more.

Time to dive into some NHL Insights for the past week.

NHL Insights: Playoff Format Change, Gary Bettman 30 Years, and All-Star Weekend

Players Want A Playoff Format Change

During All-Star weekend in Florida, several prominent players were asked about the playoff format and if they wanted to change back to the previous format of teams being seeded 1-8. Currently, the NHL has its playoffs set up by divisions to promote rivalries. However, with good teams going home in the first round, the players feel you need to reward regular-season play.

Sidney Crosby was most vocal about this change. “The NHL playoff format should be one through eight, not bracket format that forces second-and third-place teams in each division to meet in the first round.” While no format is perfect, losing good teams in the first round loses steam as the Stanley Cup Playoffs progress.

“The Toronto-Tampa thing is silly,” Nathan MacKinnon said over the all-star weekend echoing what Crosby stated earlier. “You come second in the conference, you play the third-place team in your conference in the first round. I don’t understand that.”

None of the players like Commissioner Gary Bettman want the playoffs to be expanded. However, there is no perfect format and upsets happen even in the 1-8 format. But with the way the schedule is set up by the league, Bettman stated it is not as easy as many think it is to just change it.

All-Star Weekend

Let’s face facts, All-Star Weekend is not for everyone, but this past weekend was not good at all. The Skills Competition was not that entertaining. Neither was the game. That is what happens when the Players themselves don’t try or care to be there. Again it is about the sponsors and bringing people together. But the NHL needs to Keep Things Simple when it comes to All-Star Weekend. Just like at the AHL and what they do. That resembles what All-Star Weekend should be.

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Bettman’s Tenure As Commissioner

Then there is Gary Bettman’s tenure as NHL Commissioner. Bettman has held the position now for 30 years and is not slowing down. Everyone will point to the lockouts and rightfully so, but he has done some good for the NHL. In fact, the NHL is in better shape now than it was when he first took over. The expansion into California, Florida, Dallas, Nashville, Minnesota, Columbus, Back to Ottawa, and the Relocation to Winnipeg. Not to mention the Arizona Coyotes mess the NHL will not let go of. You win some and lose some. But what league does not have problems with its commissioner?