Majority of NHL players want the league to return to one specific format
The NHL had intentions of creating divisional rivalries when it made the decision to alter the playoff seeding structure. Unfortunately, all it has done is punished good teams in strong divisions while offering an advantage to those in weak ones.
Several players and team staff were interviewed on the idea of returning to the 1 to 8 seeding for the postseason, and it appears that a majority are in favour.
One of them who weighed in was Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Even though he's never actually played in the postseason:
''I don't know. I just hope we make the playoffs one of these years.''
Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues states that divisional play leads to good hockey but thinks it lacks variety:
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who knows all about the old format from his playing days, has heavily been in favour of ditching the 'divisional bracket' for a while now:
As much as we all love to see the Toronto Maple Leafs lose in the first round, they're the perfect example of a good team that lost because of a stacked division. Especially last season when they lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Despite what the players feel, it's pretty clear that commissioner Gary Bettman has no intention of making changes anytime soon:
''The Stanley Cup is the hardest [championship] to win. And there's nothing in any sport like our first round.''
NHL players in this story
Robert Thomas
Jack Hughes
