5 NHL rule changes hockey fans want to see implemented in the league

By Mary Clarke | Apr 27, 2020

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 16: A San Jose Sharks fan takes a photo of Corey Perry #10 in the penalty box in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 16, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Corey Perry /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights shake hands after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Change the playoff format

The NHL’s playoff format is, in a word, stupid. To put it in a more coherent sentence: the NHL’s current playoff format made unnecessary changes to a system that was by-and-large already working.

Currently, the NHL’s playoff format consists of 16 teams, eight from each conference. Six spots in each conference are taken by the top three spots in the two divisions that make up each conference, with then two wild cards per conference making up the final two spots. This system is a needlessly complex one, and one that had been unnecessarily forced in order to manufacture rivalries in the earlier rounds of the playoffs.

From the NHL’s perspective, it makes a bit of sense. The league no doubt wants to make every round of playoff hockey engaging for fans, and trying to match in-division teams with one another is a way to do that. However, the NHL has seemingly forgot that playoff hockey is engaging no matter what teams are playing, and trying to manufacture the best matchups has instead made the later rounds less enjoyable.

Previously, the NHL went with a simple “best of eight” format that seeded the teams by their points, then matched them up in a No. 1 vs. No. 8 style. No wild cards. No having a team from the Metropolitan Division face off against the Atlantic Division for the “Atlantic Division championship” because of the imbalance of divisional representation. That previous format of No. 1 vs. No. 8 was then changed when the NHL’s underwent realignment in order to accommodate more teams, but has since caused more confusion than necessary.

While the NHL’s divisional format isn’t bad, the league should just go back to a simple one through eight format for playoff seedings. The NHL’s playoff format does not need manufactured drama to be enjoyable, and the league could benefit from a more streamlined playoff system in the long run.

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