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Commissioner Gary Bettman made it crystal clear that there are no plans to expand the NHL playoffs format. With the postseason set to begin Saturday, Bettman said that the league is satisfied with the current system. He believes that the current format has been successful in engaging the audience and has delivered what is expected.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said:
"We’re not giving any thought to expanding the playoffs. We have no interest in it. What we have is working very well. ” (via abcNews)
Amid an ongoing discussion about potential playoff expansions, Bettman maintained his stance. The NHL will stick with the existing format of 16 teams competing in a best-of-seven series across four rounds to vie for the coveted Stanley Cup.
"When you look at how our playoffs play out, the number of six- and seven-game series, the competitiveness of it, nothing in anybody else’s playoffs rivals that," Bettman added.
This NHL is committed to maintaining the competitiveness of the postseason, setting it apart from other major North American sports leagues that have expanded their playoffs in recent years.
One of the key benefits of the current format, as highlighted by Bettman, is its ability to keep the regular season meaningful. Players who have tasted Stanley Cup glory in recent years echoed this sentiment, expressing their preference for the status quo.
Washington's Trevor van Riemsdyk, a Cup winner with Chicago, said:
"You like what you know, I feel like. It keeps the importance of the regular season and all that stuff in the right place."
The sentiment was echoed by Pittsburgh's Reilly Smith, who won it all with the Golden Knights last year:
"There’s a lot of parity in the league, but 16 teams is plenty."
The NHL playoffs are renowned for their intensity and competitiveness, with a significant percentage of series going to a sixth or deciding seventh game. While the future may hold changes, for now, fans can look forward to the thrill of the chase for the Stanley Cup under the current playoff structure.
More details related to NHL playoffs 2024
The NHL playoffs for 2024 are set to kick off on Saturday, a two-day advancement from the initial plan. This change sparked heightened excitement among hockey enthusiasts. The Stanley Cup Finals are tentatively scheduled to begin on June 3, but this date could shift depending on the preceding series' durations. The finals are expected to wrap up by June 17.
In the United States, ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS will broadcast the NHL playoffs. ESPN and TNT, in the third year of a seven-year contract, will share coverage, with ABC airing Saturday night games in the first round.
Additional first-round games may be shown on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, TBS, or TruTV. The Stanley Cup Finals will be broadcast on ESPN, alternating with TNT. Canadian viewers can catch all playoff games on Sportsnet and CBC.
