The majority of hockey enthusiasts throughout the World are hoping for the season to reconvene at some point. Talks throughout the league continue to ensue weekly, with the NHLPA and NHL working together, hand-in-hand to see that this happens. The NHLPA BOG voted yes to a 24 team playoff format, that consists of the top 4 teams in each conference to play a best of five series against each other for seeding purposes, followed by the 8 extra teams (Making 24 teams total) would also play a best of five series with the winners of course advancing to a 16 team play-in playoffs.
More information was released today in terms of the qualifying rounds, and reseeding in the playoffs. Here’s the full breakdown:
The NHL and NHLPA got it right. The 24 NHL team format will include a best of 5 series for Qualifying rounds (Only), and the Round Robin (Top 4 teams in the Conferences) will be a one game playoff. All four rounds of the Playoffs (Play-In) will be best of 7’s, with reseeding after each round, highest seed vs lowest seed in each conference. I just want to add that the Flyers can move up from the 4th seed to the first seed in the Eastern Conference.
Great news right!!! The greatest sport on Earth is close to reconvening, and the Flyers could regain the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Most Flyers fans say drop the puck now, while others are still worried about the overall health of the athletes, trainers, media personnel, broadcasters, and other personnel, as well. Scheduling next season is also a big issue for some people, as well (For good reason). As it stands the first game wouldn’t take place until early August at the earliest, and next season could possibly be pushed back to January.
What I can say is testing will get done daily in Phase 4, and this will not be an easy task. However, it’s the proper measure to keep people safe, and with less spread of the Coronavirus. Gary Bettman and Bill Daly said last week, “A single positive test will not shutdown the tournament.” At the end of the day the World could use some sports, as sports has a way of uniting people even more. Lettttts goooo Flyerssss, they would be instant Cup contenders.
