04/16/24
July 18, 2010
The Worst Playoff Format in Professional Hockey.: This season, the Central Hockey League merges with the International Hockey League bringing the total number of teams to 18, with nine in each conference. Sixteen of the 18 teams will make playoffs – which means that, yes, they’ll play 66 games to eliminate two teams.
The NBA and NHL are saying "And your point is?"
posted by Demophon at 11:55 AM on July 18, 2010
It is nice to see that the CHL regular season truly has some meaning.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:06 PM on July 18, 2010
Only point of CHL is player development and players having fun so why this is a discussion-worthy issue is beyond me. Just more games for players to build a case to get picked up by parent or another NHL club.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:25 PM on July 18, 2010
Sorry billsaysthis, I didn't realize that this wasn't worth discussing. For future reference, can you post a list of leagues that I can post about? Thanks.
posted by BoKnows at 01:09 PM on July 18, 2010
*summon grum*
How fast can those two teams be eliminated from the playoffs?
posted by BoKnows at 01:21 PM on July 18, 2010
I think the badness of the playoff structure merits attention here. Can you imagine how it feels to be one of those two eliminated teams? A season of such promise cut short abruptly.
posted by rcade at 01:58 PM on July 18, 2010
It is nice to see that the CHL regular season truly has some meaning.
Not only that, my feeling is that is cheapens the playoffs as well.
The NBA and NHL are saying "And your point is?"
Point is that the NHL lets in 53% of teams into the playoffs. This is 89%
posted by BoKnows at 02:09 PM on July 18, 2010
Speaking as a (very) casual Odessa Jackelopes (who were seeded #1 in the CHL playoffs this season and lost in the first round) fan, it's just minor league hockey in a pretty meaningless league, for Pete's sake. Who really cares how they organize their playoff structure? If they feel it may bring in a little extra cash, well good for them, I'm sure they can use it.
posted by mjkredliner at 02:34 PM on July 18, 2010
*summon grum*
How fast can those two teams be eliminated from the playoffs?
*puff of smoke*
It's hard to calculate. Theoretically, all 18 teams could be very close in skill, so they could all hover around .500, which would mean it would come down to the final game of the season (just like the NHL)
Realistically, if we were to say the top team 9 teams are equivalent to the top 9 teams in the NHL, and the bottom 9 teams match up with the bottom 9 in the NHL, then the first team eliminated from playoff contention would probably be done after 58 games, while the second team would be eliminated on the second to last game of the season.
The reverse, however, is even goofier. The top team in the league will probably secure their playoff position with as many as 25 games left in the season.
posted by grum@work at 05:19 PM on July 18, 2010
For future reference, can you post a list of leagues that I can post about? Thanks.
This topic is no worse than some of the other topics discussed on Spofi here lately. But that seems to be the trend here on Spofi, too many "not front page worthy" post recently.
posted by sgtcookzane at 05:40 PM on July 18, 2010
It's because it's the dead season, sports-wise...
posted by MeatSaber at 06:46 PM on July 18, 2010
Any FPP that someone found interesting enough to take the time to post seems worthy of discussion to me. Anyone who isn't happy with the quality of FPP's can exercise there admingiven posting abilities and find some "quality" links to post themselves.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:20 AM on July 19, 2010
Just another league where the Leafs couldn't make the playoffs.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:41 AM on July 19, 2010
Let's take the front-page worthy issue to the Locker Room.
posted by rcade at 10:28 AM on July 19, 2010
My bad, Bo, I meant more like what mjkredliner said in his first comment. In any case, its not the league I felt was unFPP-worthy but that they let 16 of 18 teams into the playoffs. Personally I think most pro leagues should switch to soccer-style league and domestic cup formats and do away with playoffs as this would make the regular season title more significant. In the NFL, for instance, the Super Bowl could match the league and Cup winners.
Not being a member of the Pantheon my opinion is far from definitive on such matters.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:48 PM on July 19, 2010
Personally I think most pro leagues should switch to soccer-style league and domestic cup formats and do away with playoffs as this would make the regular season title more significant.
North American owners will NEVER allow playoffs to disappear. It's the time they get revenue for games played, without having to pay out a penny to the players (except in performance bonuses, if required).
The leagues themselves award money to the playoff teams (depending how well they do), so the owners see every playoff game as "free money".
posted by grum@work at 05:24 PM on July 19, 2010
I don't understand how the owners feel this will bring in more money. I guess the owners feel that even though almost every team will make the playoffs, fans will still support the teams during the regular season. I don't think I would go to as many regular season games if I knew my team would be in the playoffs. I'd just save my money for those games.
posted by BoKnows at 09:11 PM on July 19, 2010
Just as bad as NCAA Football letting teams without winning records participate in bowls.