sportsjabber.net

Well, I love listening to the radio online, and as I always do after Canuck games, I go listen to the Vancouver radio station for post game interviews, etc.

Anyway, last night they were saying that the NBA was thinking that instead of the 1st place team taking on the 8th, as the playoffs are done currently (2 against 7, 3 against 6, and 4 against 5),  the top 4 teams would choose their opponent.

And because the NBA was thinking about this, I thought that the NHL should also look into it, because as they said last night “What is good for the NBA, seems to be good for the NHL”.

So instead of the 1st place team in the West (the Sharks) having to go against the current 8th place team (Nashville Predators), you let the Sharks choose between the bottom 4.

So why would a team slated to play the 8th place team in the playoffs choose to play the 7th, 6th or 5th place team?

Well, perhaps the 1st place team has a great record against the 5th place team and feels that it would be easier to take them out. Or maybe the 6th place team is coming into the playoffs on a losing streak, and the 8th place team is on a hot streak.

On the radio, they were also talking about travel and series length. They said (which I agree with) you can’t play teams up to game 6 or 7  throughout the playoffs and expect to win. It takes a toll on your body. That combined with having to travel back and forth between the two stadiums for an entire series isn’t good.

So if you’re the San Jose Sharks (1st) and you get the choice to choose a team to play against, from the bottom 4, do you want to play a team like Nashville (8th) and have to do the whole travel thing, especially if it gets into game 6 or 7? Or would you choose Anaheim (7th).

I’m not saying the NHL will ever adopt this idea, but what do you think about it?