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The NHL and the NHL Players Association included a new collective bargaining agreement on July 6, until September 15, 2030. The current CBA ends after the 2025-26 season.
With an expansion of the possible league, many argue if the playoff field should change. Some NHL stars on the Vegas Player's media tour asked about the subject and shared their opinions.
Boston Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy Said the NHL may have to adjust -if it expands.
“We are about to have more sports teams in a league than any other sports league in North America,” said MCAVOY on Monday through Athletic. “Then, in itself is something. This should change the parameters? Maybe. I think it can be changed in a new change, right? If this will change (more teams), maybe other things have to change.”
In the 2026-27 season it will have a longer calendar, as teams will play 84 games instead of 82.This adjustment, along with other changes, was the main reason for the discussion of also changing the Playoff format.
However, many players prefer to keep 16 teams. The winner of the Norris Trophy of Colorado, Cale Makar, was one of them.
“I like how it is, personally,” Maker said. “I think it is a fantastic playoff format, apart from one to eight, we probably have to go back to it. I feel that all players want to return to 1 to 8. I think this is something we would like, but I get it. I understand the format of playoff now. Sometimes it makes the road more difficult.”
Vegas Golden Knights The Jack Eichel Center also wants the playoffs to be the same.
“I think it should be left,” Eichel said. “I think if you change anything, maybe only the format of the playoffs itself, you just have to sow one to eight.”
Other players supported 16 team format such as Washington Capitals Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois.
“Right now, I like 16 teams due to the 32 teams,” said Dubois. “It's 50 percent. But if they go through it (if the league expands) and they try something new, I like to try new things.”
Detroit Red Wings Forward Alex Debrincat He also shared his thoughts.
“There have been 16 teams for a long time,” said Debrincat. “I would love to be in the playoffs every year, but I think this is what makes it much better, that not everyone does it every year. It's so difficult to win the Stanley Cup. I think I would keep it the same.”
The expansion could change the format in the future, but most value the challenge and tradition of the existing system.
Cale Makar and Jack Eichel discussed parties in the NHL playoffs
NHL Wild Card often leads to the same coincidences each year. Avalanche defender, Cole Makar, acknowledged it, but still prefers to keep the current format.
“I mean, if you are from Edmonton or La, I would say, yes,” Makar said Monday through ESPN. “Sometimes you get a good game and sometimes you are playing a team of first six places with another team of first six years, as we did this past year. This is how it goes.
“For obvious reasons. We are playing Dallas in the first round, a sixth six (general team) and we were also the first six. But it would still have 16 teams. It would not expand it.”
Jack Eichel, Center Golden Knights, added that the current format creates repeated coincidences every year. Suggested to use a 1 to 8 format for more variety.
“You see the same parties year after year due to the way the current situation is instituted,” said Eichel. “I think if you went to 1 to 8, you could see two teams that have not been played in a series of playoffs must play -this would be what would change.”
Eichel emphasized that he does not like reproduction format, as he prefers a simpler playoff system without additional games.
Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez
