PLAYOFF EXPANSION

Here’s a concept that should take root in the NHL’s offices: Expand the size of the playoff pool.

I’m not talking the money, well I guess I kind of am, but mostly I’m talking the number of teams that should qualify.

That premise was passed to me in Buffalo by current Sabres and long time HNIC color analyst Harry Neale, who also said James Neal needs to learn how to properly spell his last name.

But I digress.

Currently 16 of the league’s 30 teams make the playoffs. That might sound like a lot but consider that back when the NHL was just a 6-team league, 4 clubs made the playoffs. When they expanded to 12 teams, 8 played in the post season. And when the league grew to 21 teams the same number of teams that currently make playoffs, made the playoffs.

So why not expand the tournament? Those numbers I just laid out would suggest such a move is long overdue, and just think of the drama the “wild card best of three series” would produce, not to mention the revenue. Plus the rest for the top-seeded teams would get a well earned rest prior to embarking on what each hopes will be a long post season run.

Have 10 teams make the playoffs in each conference, then have the 7th and 10th, 8th and 9th seeded teams each play a best of 3 series, and conduct it over a four or five day span. This way your top 6 teams get almost a week off and your top two seeded teams truly get an advantage over what should be semi-fatigued teams from the wild card series. Or go to 12 teams. What would be the problem with 24 of the 30 teams getting in on the action as long as the top seeds get some form of advantage?

Monetarily speaking, teams earn approximately $1,000,000 for each home playoff gate, but with a reported 40-60% of that going to league costs, lots of money any way you slice it.

Razor says, the more the merrier!