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More insight on return-to-play scenarios |
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Two interesting columns today, each with information pertaining to the season restart. Elliotte Friedman reported that the league might be going with conference based approach to the 24-team playoffs, 12 from each conference. Sounds vaguely familiar as have idea who has been saying that for the past few weeks :). Larry Brooks' column highlights the specter that Carey Price, or a hot goalie of his ilk, might be driving how the league proceeds in terms of playoff set, including games per round initially.
The top four seeds (based on points percentage) in the East would be Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. Top four in the West would be St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas.
They would receive byes through the play-in, but participate in a three-game tournament to get some action. I confess I’m not certain of all the details on if or how it would affect playoff seeding.
The rest of the playoffs would be “bracketed.” That means, in both conferences 5 vs. 12 (winner plays four seed), 6 vs. 11 (winner plays three seed), 7 vs. 10 (winner plays two seed) and 8 vs. 9 (winner plays one seed).
So that would mean an opening round of: Pittsburgh/Montreal; Carolina/Rangers; Islanders/Florida and Toronto/Columbus in the East and Edmonton/Chicago; Nashville/Arizona; Vancouver/Minnesota; Calgary/Winnipeg in the West.
The play-in series would be a best-of-five. The rest of the playoffs would be best-of-seven.
In this format, Buffalo and Anaheim, who make the playoffs if taking top-six by division, do not make the postseason, while New York, Montreal and Chicago are in, I have been saying for weeks - and no, not specifically because I am somewhat xenophobic - that this is the approach that should be followed. As this is abnormal season, scrap the intradivisional matchups and go back to what existed in years past. Just take the top-12 in the conference, so the best teams overall make the playoffs, rather than just taking the top per division.
For it is largely due to the remarkable reputation of Carey Price among his peers that much talk about the format of what appears to be a summer 24-team tournament has fixated on how unfair it would be to face Price in a best-of-three, multiple sources report.
We are told there is growing support for a best-of-five first round that would, to a degree, temper the impact of a hot goaltender in a short series.
Price, I hope, is just an example here, rather who the NHL is truly concerned about for purposes of the playoffs. A hot goalie can always turn the tide, and in the late-70s, the NHL had best-of-three series. Friedman above notes that the play-in round is likely a best-of-five, which then confirms to a certain extent what Brooks wrote. Per Ek today, we could see back-to-back contests in the playoffs, which then would increase the value and need for a good backup goalie; a current strength of the Rangers.
Much of the discussion, as well, has regarded escrow and the possibility of extending the collective bargaining agreement that expires following 2021-22. The Post has learned that the parties have discussed the concept of placing a cap on escrow as part of an extension. Under terms of the current CBA, the players are responsible for making up the 2019-20 carryover escrow next year. The players would obviously prefer to extend the payment over multiple seasons.
We’re told the anticipated escrow cap offer would be higher than 25 percent. The parties have been preoccupied with the escrow issue at the expense of give-and-take on other CBA-related matters.
The players have deferred payment of the last check, which was previously deferred. A reasonable cap on the escrow would benefit the players, but we all know that will come with some form of concession to the owners, possibly in terms of limits in terms of signing bonus as a % of an overall contract. Escrow is a hot button topic, resolving that possible sticky wicket might aid in a smoother completion of the new CBA, though color me skeptical.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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