Shinyshoes
06-20-2007, 03:09 PM
The Annual General Meeting for the WHL this year has produced the long awaited change to the playoff format in the WHL.
In the past, the top 4 teams from each division would play in a 1-4, 2-3 format for the first round of the playoffs. Beginning in 2008, only the divisional winners will be garunteed a playoff spot, and will be seeded 1st and 2nd, with spots 3-8 being filled by the teams with the most regular season points. The first round of playoffs will then begin in a 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5 format like the NHL currently uses.
After the 1st round of the playoffs, the remaining teams will be re-seeded based on regular season points, and will play in a 1-4, 2-3 format.
I personally like this format, because it prevents teams of a lower caliber from making the playoffs instead of a team with more points, but in a tougher division, as we have seen a couple of times over the last couple years with the central/East divisions. Also, it will encourage the better teams to advance further in the playoffs, rather than having good teams eliminated in the first round after playing divisional teams.
In the past, the top 4 teams from each division would play in a 1-4, 2-3 format for the first round of the playoffs. Beginning in 2008, only the divisional winners will be garunteed a playoff spot, and will be seeded 1st and 2nd, with spots 3-8 being filled by the teams with the most regular season points. The first round of playoffs will then begin in a 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5 format like the NHL currently uses.
After the 1st round of the playoffs, the remaining teams will be re-seeded based on regular season points, and will play in a 1-4, 2-3 format.
I personally like this format, because it prevents teams of a lower caliber from making the playoffs instead of a team with more points, but in a tougher division, as we have seen a couple of times over the last couple years with the central/East divisions. Also, it will encourage the better teams to advance further in the playoffs, rather than having good teams eliminated in the first round after playing divisional teams.