> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Tuesday’s FTB: If the wild card playoff stays, the NHL should make this one change - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-news-nhl-playoff-format-tampa-bay-lightning-presidents-trophy-patrick-maroon/ - Published: 2019-03-19T11:05:41.000Z - Updated: 2019-03-19T11:05:41.000Z - Description: This is, truly, one of the dumber ideas. - Author: Adam Selvig - Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 10:50 If the NHL is going to continue the divisional + wild card playoffs - shut up, they’re not bringing 1-8 back and it’s just as flawed a format - I think there’s one change that would really shake things up and accomplish two things that would make me happy: 1. Cause utter chaos in the playoffs 2. Make people even more mad online So, I propose, if the NHL is going to keep the divisional + wild card playoff format, they need to remove the conference restrictions on the wild cards. Yes, I want four wild card spots that can cross conferences. This gives the top wild card a better shot that could be wasted on a lower seeded team. This could give the more powerful, talented conference more spots in the playoffs. Is the Western Conference really better? This would prove it. We could end up with impossible Stanley Cup Finals like Canadiens vs Maple Leafs or Flames vs Oilers. Imagine a Western Conference team getting an Eastern Conference Champions banner to hang in their arena? The way the NHL standings sit now, this is the current playoff situation: **Metro Division** WC1 - Carolina @ #1 - NY Islanders #3 - Pittsburgh @ #2 - Washington **Atlantic Division** WC2 - Columbus @ #1 - Tampa Bay #3 - Toronto @ #2 - Boston **Central Division** WC1 - Dallas @ #1 - Winnipeg #3 - St. Louis @ #2 - Nashville **Pacific Division** WC2 - Arizona @ #1 - Calgary #3 - Vegas @ #2 - San Jose In this format, the Canadiens have more points than the Coyotes and Stars, but they miss the playoffs. In my chaos inducing format, they’ll get in and get the chance to make some noise. **Metro Division** WC2 - Columbus @ #1 - NY Islanders #3 - Pittsburgh @ #2 - Washington Now we have a chance for a Blue Jackets/Penguins second round. Much more appealing to fans and networks than a Penguins/Hurricanes series, because those two teams do not like each other. **Atlantic Division** WC4 - Dallas @ #1 - Tampa Bay #3 - Toronto @ #2 - Boston Our first cross over serves up the Stars as the Lightning’s punching bag in round one rather than the Blue Jackets. Ben Bishop gets a post-season homecoming, and an all-south first round match up gives pundits plenty to complain about during intermissions. **Central Division** WC2 - Columbus @ #1 - Winnipeg #3 - St. Louis @ #2 - Nashville The Blue Jackets went all in and their reward is getting to play against a weaker Central Division in the first two rounds, rather than a stronger Metro. This gives Jarmo Kekäläinen better odds to keep his job. **Pacific Division** WC3 - Montreal @ #1 Calgary Flames #3 - Vegas @ #2 - San Jose The Pacific gives Rogers the all Canadian match up they dream of every year. Montreal gets into the playoffs, knocking the Coyotes out of the post-season. If Carey Price plays like the Carey Price who’s worth $10M a year, better he go out west than stay on the east coast. Looking at past seasons there are a few different teams getting in: 17/18 - Panthers in, Avalanche out 16/17 - Islanders in, Predators out 15/16 - Bruins in, Wild out 14/15 - No change 13/14 - No Change So, am I crazy? Would this not be a better wild card option than the current one? ### Should the wild card playoff spots cross over conferences? | Yes, bring on the chaos | 151 | | ------------------------------- | --- | | No, it’s just too much travel | 35 | | You made a bad thing even worse | 106 | And now, the news, > Leafs forward Frederik Gauthier (foot) will not travel with the team for the next two games in Nashville and Buffalo and will be re-evaluated on Thursday. [#LeafsForever](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) [March 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1107652801977552896?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- #### Related [Toronto Maple Leafs Musings: Bracco is NHL Ready, Sandin's in Brannstrom Territory, Liljegren's Strong Stretch, and Playing a Heavier Style | Maple Leafs Hotstove](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2019/03/18/toronto-leafs-musings-bracco-is-nhl-ready-sandins-in-brannstrom-territory-liljegrens-strong-stretch-and-playing-a-heavier-style/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- --- #### Related [It’s Phil Kessel’s time](https://www.pensburgh.com/2019/3/18/18270961/phil-kessel-pittsburgh-penguins-evgeni-malkin-upper-body-injury-goal-scoring-its-time-playoffs-nhl?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- > Since being first awarded in 1985-86, only one team has required fewer contests to clinch the Presidents' Trophy than the [@TBLightning](https://twitter.com/TBLightning?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) (73 GP). [#NHLStats](https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLStats?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [#ARIvsTBL](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARIvsTBL?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/YfcmhoO3CG](https://t.co/YfcmhoO3CG?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — NHL Public Relations (@PR\_NHL) [March 19, 2019](https://twitter.com/PR%5FNHL/status/1107830089625018369?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- #### Related [Better Late Than Never: Pat Maroon heats up at the right time for the Blues](https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2019/3/18/18270914/better-late-than-never-pat-maroon-heats-nhl-at-the-right-time-for-the-blues?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- Remember, the Leafs play tonight at 8PM, since they’re playing slightly more west than usual and take on the Predators in Central Time.