Does anyone know how the new playoff format works?

[Robin Hood]

I ask this because I was looking up the Leafs in the standings and it also relates to our league. Our playoffs will happen before the NHL playoffs so it is important we understand how it works. Also, it will keep conversations regarding standings in BBKL relevant.

Here is how I understand it

Let's say the standings in the Eastern conference are as follows:

1. Team A (Atlantic 1)
2. Team B (Metropolitan 1)
3. Team C (A2)
4. Team D (M2)
5. Team E (A3)
6. Team F (M3)
7. Team G (Wildcard 1)
8. Team H (Wildcard 2)

First round

Team A vs Team H (Conference Winner vs Wildcard 2)
Team B vs Team G (Division Winner vs Wildcard 1)

^ This part I know is right. Where it gets tricky is:

Team C vs Team E (Atlantic Division Seed 2 vs Atlantic Division Seed 3 EVEN THOUGH the teams are seeded 3 and 5)
Team D vs Team F (Metropolitan Division Seed 2 vs Seed 3 EVEN THOUGH the teams are seeded 4 and 6)

^ This is one of the things I am not sure about

Let's say Team A, Team B, Team C and Team D win.

Next Round

Team A vs Team C (that would make it seeds 1 vs 3 <-- reason for this is that ONLY the conference finals are reseeded I THINK. Until then it is a bracket within your division. Not sure about this.)
Team B vs Team D (that would make it seeds 2 vs 4)

Now this is my understanding of it. Can someone confirm/deny/provide the right format please?

[Bruyns]

Seems correct to me

http://thestudyofsports.com/nhlplayoffs.html

Qualifiers (16):
-top 3 teams in each division qualify (12)
-teams with next two best records in each conference, regardless of division, qualify (4)
-top 3 team in each division seeded 1st through 3rd according to most points
-team with next best record seeded 4th in home division
-remaining qualifier seeded 4th in remaining division within same conference

1/8 Finals (First Round):
-eight, best-of-7 series
-higher seeds play up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-1st seeds vs 4th seeds
-2nd seeds vs 3rd seeds

1/4 Finals (Division Finals):
-four, best-of-7 series
-higher seeds play up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-highest seeded 1/8 Finals winners vs lowest seeded 1/8 Finals winners

1/2 Finals (Conference Finals):
-two, best-of-7 series
-teams with most points play up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-1/4 Finals winners vs 1/4 Finals winners

Finals (Stanley Cup Finals):
-best-of-7 championship series
-team with most points plays up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-1/2 Final winner vs 1/2 Final winner

[Robin Hood]

That is different from what I posted. Can anyone try finding the answer on NHL.com? I've been looking for a while now and no luck...

[Bruyns]

What is different? What I posted is definitely the format.

Here it is again I just searched playoff format on NHL.com and found it no problem.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6850 ... nhl-search

[Robin Hood]

What is different? What I posted is definitely the format.

Here it is again I just searched playoff format on NHL.com and found it no problem.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6850 ... nhl-search

That doesn't answer the question...

The issue is:

-We do not know what happens in Round 2.
-Are teams reseeded? E.g. at that point divisions don't matter?
-OR is it a bracket system and teams don't get reseeded till the conference final.

[Bruyns]

Reads to me like it's division play for two rounds since it's called "division finals".

1/4 Finals (Division Finals):
-four, best-of-7 series
-higher seeds play up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-highest seeded 1/8 Finals winners vs lowest seeded 1/8 Finals winners

and from NHL,com

The teams finishing second and third in each division will play in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of each opening-round series will play for berths in the conference championship series.


NHL.com Sounds like it's only divisional round one and then the top 2 remaining teams play the bottom 2 in the conference. It is a little vague though and I actually thought the first two rounds were divisional play. I'm sure more will come out about this in the new year.

[Robin Hood]

Reads to me like it's division play for two rounds since it's called "division finals".

1/4 Finals (Division Finals):
-four, best-of-7 series
-higher seeds play up to 4 home games (HHAAHAH)
-highest seeded 1/8 Finals winners vs lowest seeded 1/8 Finals winners

and from NHL,com

The teams finishing second and third in each division will play in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of each opening-round series will play for berths in the conference championship series.


NHL.com Sounds like it's only divisional round one and then the top 2 remaining teams play the bottom 2 in the conference. It is a little vague though and I actually thought the first two rounds were divisional play. I'm sure more will come out about this in the new year.

Yea I'd like to clear up the vagueness. It will be stupid if we do our playoffs one way then discover the NHL is doing it another way. But hopefully more info comes out in the next few months.