Sidney Crosby is RIGHT about this…

[@TheStallionMang66]

Agree with Sid

[@f15stroke]

I agree with you agreeing with Sid.

[@elusivelectron]

@@f15stroke I agree with you agreeing with The Stallion Mang agreeing with Sid.

[@f15stroke]

@@elusivelectron If we can get this to a million agreements, maybe the NHL will do something.

[@MrPumpkin8ter]

That cringy all-star game can't be good for ratings.

[@carterwoodrow4805]

@@f15stroke I agree with you agreeing with him agreeing with sid

[@johnnyjoey]

After all these years, I think Bettman still doesn’t understand hockey! Crosby and McDavid are bang-on!

[@daleweiss9507]

He's too busy worshiping the alphabet community.

[@floxy20]

You think Bettman decides this? Or the vote of the governors? Take your time answering this difficult question.

[@jonontube]

@@floxy20 The division playoff bracket is bettman's baby

[@johnnyjoey]

@@floxy20 Having a bad day?

[@johnnyjoey]

@@floxy20 Every corporation has a CEO and a board of governors. When things go wrong, who gets blamed and gets fired?

[@thirstfast1025]

I agree. Don't really understand why they changed it in the first place. Remember how crazy it was when an 8th or 7th team took out a top contender in the first round? Actual underdog stories unfolding in front of fans.

[@Moondancin]

Well said. I immediately thought of the 2012 Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup run from being dead 8th in the Western to winning it all. Give us back the underdog stories!

[@raprock5000]

That made some awesome game's 👌🏾

[@jade8245]

Well said! Agreeee

[@jeffreycairns767]

The way it use to work, which most should remember, is the top team from each division, to which there were 3 for each conference, would finish 1, 2 and 3, depending on point totals, and the final top 5 teams in each conference would finish out the 8 per. There was no wild card spots. Also, if you played great and finished 1st in your division, you should not be forced to play a team in second place. I also agree with the shootout and I miss ties in the games as it can make finishing the season very entertaining.

[@davidgillies2623]

It was changed to the current format to try to copy the NFL playoff format to cater to Southern US fans. Way back in the day, it used to be top 4 teams in each division made the playoffs, 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. Definitely should be either top 4 in each div or top 8 in each conference. The format now is horrible

[@Kieva_Storm]

I guess I've never really experienced the struggles of NHL viewership numbers - I'm a Red Wings fan, they have a huge fan base. It also leads to me making a shocker of a statement. This was the final little tipping point that makes me have to respect Sid. He's grown up exponentially since joining the league. The fact that he's willing to speak out about the league in an official interview, and call for something that long-time NHL fans as a majority seem to want back? Crosby just might be the man to tip the needle and make that happen. And it's a valid point. All out attrition in the first round is fun, but it's more fun that it's an 8th seed team that 'really' wants it. I'm thinking back to... I think it was LA in their first cup run, rising above their rank? (I'm probably wrong, but I know it happened just a bit before the format change) Furthermore, as far as viewership goes - of course they're going to have shit viewership, they make it so hard to watch games with their subscription services and blackouts.

[@SirCanuckelhead]

the kings were the first 8th seed to knock out the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranked team. Their final record really made it one of the most dominate playoff perfomances.

[@Greenfrom3]

Didn't really read that all tbh. But my rebuttle to that is. As an Edmonton fan, it's really nice when we end playing Calgary like last year. The fact you have to "get out of your division" does lead to rekindled rivalries.

[@janetcampbell5678]

I LOVE MY RED WINGS!!! BORN & RAIED IN DETROIT

[@anonymousperson2521]

LGRW! ESPN+/NHL deal is garbage. The announcers are bad, always mixing players up. Miss the good ol days growing up watching the 90s wings on local over the air FREE channels.

[@khure711]

I hate the way they make you watch games. I finally get a team in my state. The Seattle kraken, but I live on the other side of the state so all the games are blackout. Yup the hockey team in my state won’t let me watch them. I’d watch every game if I could. Instead I get to check scores and highlights. What’s a guy to do, go ESPN+ doesn’t matter, blackout not available in my area of Washington state.

[@blainekerfoot6870]

Your right that all star weekend is the dumbest thing they got going on for sure

[@MrBboyle1]

Kids enjoy it. Don’t always need everything to be super serious and intense.

[@jakecarroll5]

Yeah All star game is boring and very much a joke.

[@specblend77]

What an absolute train-wreck that circus was. Total garbage.

[@alexandrapreston7283]

@@MrBboyle1 No one enjoys it

[@MrBboyle1]

@@alexandrapreston7283 sorry you must be correct; yes it is all bad and terrible and an outrage! 😡

[@toddmazzitelli3159]

I agree with Sid! To me, it appears that the NHL is like the Titanic, it is slowly sinking. However, the NHL can fix things and pull out of this slump. To do this, they have to listen to their stars like Sid and Connor. Unfortunately, Gary Bettman and his band of hapless executives do not want to take the advice or recommendations of the stars. The current situation is a recipe for failure.

[@Mark_Knight]

I will say the pink elephant is the NHL hates their fans because they want that ESG money. They want to court others who do not care and they are willing to push that aspect first. 1-8 works and is easier for the average fan, rather than what it currently is. I hate the shootout as it ruins the most exciting play in hockey. 3 vs 3 is better. Perhaps a 10 minute 3vs 3 or something similar, rather than the current mess.

[@DarkPassenger]

They made a huge mistake signing with ESPN. Seems like that's all they do now is make bad decisions.

[@CJMattias]

Sinking like titanic, big pink elephant... I'd personally say good hockey's like the shit of the rhino, more and more rare to find and rarely fresh. That's the real caterpillar in the haystack.

[@audibletapehiss3764]

Some leagues listen to their fans and players too much. The NHL could never be accused of that. For 30 years, Bettman's judgement has been just "good enough" for him to rationalize every mistake and believe in his head that he still knows best. This year is really the tipping point where I think it's very obvious that he's lost the thread, as far as who makes this game go. Gary, it's not you. And it's not your corporate sponsors. It's the players and the fans. And you don't "appease" them by giving them what you think they should want. You listen to them, because collectively, they know a hell of a lot more than you do.

[@craigharrison5406]

They have to get rid of Bettman. He's the mastermind behind all these changes and the one who has financially hamstrung the league and it's stars with a low hard salary cap. How is it possible Steph Curry, Dak Prescott and Max Scherzer all make north of $45M per year and McDavid makes $12M? I've checked the numbers and the NHL revenue is a lot more than 25% of the other 3 big North American sports leagues.

[@bluedemon82384]

I don't typically care for Sidney Crosby, but he is dead on with this one, bring back the 1-8 format, and ties. Make it a 10 min 3v3 and if no one scores it's a tie game, nothing wrong with ties.

[@BoganFromBama]

I agree on the ties. I'm a Leafs fan and even I hate the pity point for losing in OT/SO.

[@bencunningham6298]

Get rid of the pity point altogether. If it's a tie split 1-1 and whoever wins gets the 2 no matter if it's OT or not.

[@scotttheoreo9217]

I don't like the idea of ties. Ties just feel like a lame way to end a game.

[@Finduski]

Shootout belongs in hockey games

[@quelchx]

Ties from my memory had a funky outcome on a lot of teams at end of year. They just need to extend overtime maybe 5 extra mins and it should eliminate maybe 60% of shootouts and that be fine by most fans I assume + the player base. I like the 2 points for win 1 for overtime loss but 5 minutes should just become 10 minutes and like I said.

[@mrnobody3161]

Referees who are competent and consistent would be a good start.

[@melvynobrien6193]

Refs never are, nor ever will be consistent. You can't see everything in a fast game.

[@mrnobody3161]

@@melvynobrien6193 Hockey is a fast game? Wow I never noticed. Thanks Captain Obvious!

[@jeffreycairns767]

Betteman makes the decision on the winner of each game based on his own feelings as well as who's betting on who, as they get a kick back when the house wins big, which he then makes sure to call the games to benefit. Not just the final score or who wins but many things. A perfect example if this is, earlier in the season, the Leafs had 0 penalties in a game against Detroit and then the following games they received 8 and 6 in those games while the opponents received 2 and 3.

[@georgekitchen7046]

@@mrnobody3161 Who are you calling captain obvious? Every sport has the same issue with refs. Who are these magical refs that exist that are so consistent? They don't exist. Stating that they are inconsistent is far more deserving of the title "Captain Obvious".

[@hanleyaass6301]

I completely agree with Sid. I remember in 2019 I sent a text message on instagram to the NHL thinking that they’d actually respond and I was tellin em to change the format back. Like you said in this video, It’s a much fairer way to do things but in my opinion, its also more enjoyable to see a couple of new/different matchups, rather than seeing the same teams play each other each year in R1.

[@HearMeOutGuy]

1-8 format is WAYYYY better, we would see a lot better end of regular season hockey as every point matters as well

[@kawasaket]

Totally agree with Sydney Crosby! Why should a team work so hard to be first in their regular season to take on another top seeded team early in the playoff bracket? it should be conference based instead of division based. 1v8,2v7,3v6,4v5 makes so much more sense. TBH when it comes to playoffs it should be 1v16, 2v15, etc but for travel difficulties and proper amount of rest they should either space them out every 3 days between games when switching locations and 2 games when playing in same city.

[@snyderfamily7011]

Problem is that teams play uneven schedules. That is why the current format is the best. Out of the teams that play each other most, the best of that group should move on.

[@SticksWithPicks]

Agreed. The sneaky "doesn't matter who the Leafs play" though 😂😂😂

[@SuperStrik9]

I'm a Leafs fan and it's 100% right. The playoff losses to Columbus and Montreal prove it.

[@PaulMarangoni]

@@SuperStrik9 Relax

[@SuperStrik9]

@@PaulMarangoni Just stating facts. If other Leafs fans want to deny reality that's up to them. I'd love for the Leafs to prove me wrong and actually win a round.

[@Katie-hb8iq]

Totally agree. The leafs could finish as a 0.550 team or a 0.800 team and they still play Tampa. Wonderful.

[@willrobinson1671]

I definitely agree with going back to the old 1-8 format. I thought the Leafs would take out the Lightning last year. Tampa has played a lot of hockey in the last 3 years, and I thought they already looked tired half way through the Leaf series. Too bad the Leafs couldn't have hung on, but in the end Tampa is just flat out good.

[@Mark_Knight]

1-8 works and is easier for the average fan, rather than what it currently is. I hate the shootout as it ruins the most exciting play in hockey. 3 vs 3 is better. Perhaps a 10 minute 3vs 3 or something similar, rather than the current mess. Their needs to be a better reward for being good in the regular season. Toronto shouldn't play Tampa last year...although so many good teams.

[@renlysotherlover294]

So you’re just crying because Toronto sucks in the playoffs? Honestly I agree about changing the format back but to do it solely because your teams sucks isn’t a valid reason

[@SuperStrik9]

The current playoff format makes the regular season more boring imo. A lot of the time fans know a few months into the season what the playoff matchups are going to be. 1 v 8 is more unpredictable and makes for a more interesting regular season.

[@rjw7032]

@@renlysotherlover294 that series last year was an all out war. Either team could have taken the series. In the end it was the goalies that determined the outcome. At least the leafs hurt so many lightning players they had no chance at another cup. Exactly why they need to go to 1-8 format again.

[@kj6446]

@@renlysotherlover294 speaking as someone who is no fan of the leafs now is the perfect time to keep this format...they can get bumped out in the first round by the Bruins or Lightning for years until they suck again. and then the league can go back to 1-8

[@soyentak5076]

The NHL was at it's best when top four in each Division progressed. Man Montreal Boston almost every year was epic.

[@billo6938]

Amen!

[@jayrock248]

montreal v quebec was great too

[@billo6938]

@@jayrock248 Bad when it was the Adams division the playoffs were great and tough win the Bruins, Montreal, Quebec, Buffalo and Hartford.

[@user-xn5me8iz7c]

I 100% agree that shootout should be done with. A shootout is just a tie. It's not a good way to decide a game. Hockey is a team sport. As much as individual efforts by players looks awesome and flashy I think most fans are more impressed when it comes to a teams overall play. Playoff format wise I have less an opinion on. I'm cool with trying different things.

[@mh13mini]

The viewership being down isn't that hard to figure out: - inject identity politics that only the woke activists want. Tip: most sports fans aren't activists and just want to have fun. - put heavily distracting moving adds on the ice. - obnoxious gambling adds EVERYWHERE - make it virtually impossible to stream NHL games

[@prussen9889]

Part of the viewership being down could be due to most regular season games being on premium subscription services. At least they are in my area. I get one game a week on TNT to watch 😂

[@gregwenzel3853]

You are spot on. Once it left cable we the viewers got screwed!!!!

[@quelchx]

I totally agree with the old format. Not because I'm a Leafs fan but the old format made way more sense then the new one. Should be top 8 from east then top 8 from west not this possible 5 say Metro to 3 Atlantic because of a few points. Plus as mentioned it actually rewards teams for playing better during season otherwise the season doesn't matter as much. Personally I'm not surprised ratings are down I barely watch season anymore (cuz I'm a Leafs fan) and to me it's just a wait for the playoffs and when you think about it that kind of feels shitty thinking the 82 games before it don't matter that much in the grand scheme cuz basically top teams play eachother first round more times than not looking on the past.

[@GrapeJuiceIII]

Let’s not forget last year’s Blues vs Wild first round series. 2nd seed vs 4th seed in the west is a matchup that should never ever be happening in the first round

[@j-dubb614]

I don't know that they have to win back their fanbase. I think moving to ESPN is what destroyed their ratings. People are tired of needing a different subscription service for everything. I think a lot of people have sought other means of watching NHL games.

[@thetranya3589]

ESPN sucks on many levels…

[@basicchannel3089]

no its just people now use illegal websites to watch NHL games

[@sicklifedesigns]

The “doesn’t matter for the leafs tho” has me rolling 😂😂

[@ozma6918]

It's not just the fact that 1-8 playoffs would be rewarding better teams in the regular season... I mean, the Leafs-Bolts playoff series we'll have this year is locked since december. No playoff series should be a lock THIS early in the season IMHO. If it were the 1-8 format, then who knows; if the 'yoffs start tomorrow morning there'd be a Leafs-Rangers series, which would be very good. But from here on to the end of the season, who knows? Maybe they end up facing the Devils (have they ever faced in the playoffs?) or maybe they do end up facing the Bolts... There's more meaning to games down the stretch. Then there's the fact that right now, still a month away from the trade deadline, the Leafs could just go all-out and build a team SPECIFICALLY to face Tampa Bay and win a round. But what about afterwards? Do we get another situation like that of the Panthers last year, where they just fold right down in the second round? BTW I'm using the Leafs as an example since it's the most blatant example of an early lock we have so far... The current format seems to favor a Seattle-Edmonton first round, which is nice, but a 1-8 format would pit the Kraken against the Wild instead, and IMHO that would be far more interesting. Finally, the 1-8 format always gave me a feeling of the first round being weeding the guys from the men. It became immediately more interesting when an underdog caused the upset (see the Kings in 2012). But hey, the bottom line is that Bettman doesn't want to do it so he'll just find any excuse to make it look justifiable, but in the end, it's just pure caprice from him. Let's face it, nothing will change so long as Bettman is there...

[@AnadyrVostok91]

I agree, I much prefer the 1-8 playoff structure. And yes, the Devils did play the Leafs in 2000 and 2001 in the East Semis.

[@daemonhoundofkhorne834]

I agree but please don't ever refer to the playoffs as the 'yoffs again.

[@alexandrapreston7283]

@@daemonhoundofkhorne834 Agreed

[@zachmalone428]

Someone mentioned that the move to ESPN hasn't been great. I know quite a few casual fans that watched NBC on Sunday afternoon and midweek and having half the stanley cup on cable just seems wrong. Not only do you need to have money to play and go to the games, you now need money just to be a fan and watch on tv. NHL is clearly an example of how not to market a sport. Baseball gets in trouble because they're always worried about the history but the NHL has changed a bunch but have no idea how to market their stars. The all star skills competition was a mockery of the finest hockey players on the planet. I can act like happy gilmore but I can't deke and skate like the top 1% of humans. Hockey is one of the hardest sports out there and they should highlight how hard it is plus how easy the NHLers make it look.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

The NHL needs to stream its games without bs blackouts. They also need to do something similar to the NFL where before the first drive of the game on offense and defense, NFL players would have those graphics shown introducing themselves, their position, and what school they graduated from.

[@steelthunder5123]

As a lightning fan I'd have to a agree. But I also recognize that, even in the old system, last years playoffs would have been an all out war for us. We were lucky enough to make it to the Stanley Cup again and the old format might not have saved us from being as banged up as we were.

[@allenelliott2114]

Agree with Sid. It's silly for the 2nd round to be competitive and exciting only to lead to a snoozer of a conference final, which seems to happen a lot in this current system.

[@jbtwofour]

1) Return to 1-8 playoff format. 2) Abolish the shootout. 3) Get rid of digital ads and ads on jerseys. 4) STAY AWAY FROM WOKE GARBAGE AND POLITICS!!!

[@chrismckinnon4241]

I prefer going back even further to the 1980’s when it was 1st vs 16th

[@Studley2]

I dont really care much to switch or not, I'm fine either way. I agree less shootouts and more 3 on 3. BUT the big reason why I don't watch as much (and just grab highlights) is because of the damn ads on the boards! So annoying. I put a game on, and they are so distracting, I just turn it off

[@odsonic]

I'm with you there...there game to is so European I can't even tell sometimes if I'm watching a Spengler cup game ( with smaller ice) or skating ads

[@thetranya3589]

I wouldn’t have a problem with it if the ads weren’t animated. It’s when they move that creates a distracting mess - not to mention the technical glitches that happen.

[@theoldboy70]

I agree, I also think Florida should never be allowed to ruin an NHL weekend again.

[@bobhenry6159]

Don't stop at 1-8 playoffs. Ditch the 'balanced' schedule and go to 1 game against each opposing conference team in the first half of the year, then heavy on division matchups so the rivalries burn bright. Mix in 3 intra conference games throughout the second half just to get a taste of what the semi will look like. That way you have a better chance of getting the best in each division into the semis, and the best of each conference into the finals. The numbers work. 6 each against 7 division teams = 42 + 24 intra conference games = 66 + 16 opposing conference games = 82. Let fans argue all year about which division and conference is better, then settle it in the playoffs.

[@zilzia94]

viewership is down because its all on these extra paid channels so most of us watch it for free on streaming websites

[@Cerby1979]

Agree. Current format is brutal. If things stand in the Atlantic division for example, the Leafs and Bolts would be duking it out in the first round again.

[@pomerlain8924]

Basically Bolts are basically taking the place of Bruins as the annual match-up for the Leafs in the playoffs.

[@timbrown3666]

In a 1-8 playoff format the Leafs would still be playing the Bolts lol

[@BrokTheLoneWolf]

Be done with “hockey is for everyone” bs. Hockey is for those who pay money to support it. Period.

[@patientmental875]

We need the 1-8 playoff format & a decent NHL All-Star game with skills comp just like they did when it started in 89-90! Changing it have made these things incredibly bad & it shows!

[@JoshuaCGPD]

When you run a business, best listen to your employees

[@mrvaultguy1118]

I like it how it is because the schedule is mostly division based so it makes sense the playoffs are too.

[@subscribeifyouwantidrc]

The NHL needs to start listening to their best players because they seem to know a thing or two about hockey

[@GreenMamba927]

Totally agree with Crosby. Seed each conference 1-8 like it used to be. It’ll also help to develop new rivalries.

[@coreyrees840]

Shootouts are trash, 3v3 OT is trash, the playoff format is trash. Game going downhill fast

[@calebos268]

Every playoffs with this format (note: 2020 and 2021 were in the covid format): 2022 East: Round 1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 6, 3 vs 5, 4 vs 7; Round 2 (assuming the top seeds win): 1 vs 3, 2 vs 4 West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 4, 3 vs 7, 5 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 5 2019 East: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 5, 3 vs 7, 4 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4 West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5; 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4 2018 East: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 4, 3 vs 7, 5 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 5 West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 4, 3 vs 7, 5 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 5 2017 East: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 3, 4 vs 5, 6 vs 7; R2: 1 vs 2, 4 vs 6 (definitely the most egregious one) West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 5, 3 vs 7, 4 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4 2016 East: R1: 1 vs 7, 2 vs 4, 3 vs 5, 6 vs 8; R2: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 6 West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 3, 4 vs 7, 5 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 2, 4 vs 5 2015 East: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5; R2: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 (actually normal lol) West: R1: 1 vs 7, 2 vs 6, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 8; 1 vs 3, 2 vs 5 2014 East: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 3, 2 vs 5 West: R1: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 5, 4 vs 6; R2: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 Edit: I have no life ok lol

[@bob-rob]

Hockey getting more "woke" is why viewership is down

[@njswampfox474]

It sure doesn't help.

[@mebro3036]

i agree, especially in a season where most of the dominant teams come from one conference

[@Mirrale]

I get the cons of the current system but overall I’m a fan. I love playing rivals in the playoffs and it would be tragic to go 10-20 years without seeing your rival in series because the odds get so low that you face each other.

[@SirCanuckelhead]

I get the concept but in the current system, I do not feel like new rivalries are being made or old ones growing. So is this system really encouraging rivalries? I am not buying it.

[@scotey]

@@SirCanuckelhead Agreed. I'm a Red Wings fan, and the best playoff rivalries we had were Colorado and Anaheim, teams two and three time zones away. We never had rivalries with division foes like Nashville, Columbus, Chicago, etc. Great playoff battles create those great rivalries. It doesn't need to be a team that's 2-3 hours away by car.

[@SirCanuckelhead]

@@scotey 1 hit really made for some of the best playoff hockey for a few years det vs col!

[@bostonhockeyco]

He has a great point. The league needs a huge overhaul, in the playoff format, its ways of growing the game, TV broadcasts, etc.

[@specblend77]

Maybe start without Leah Hextall calling anymore games. Also, getting rid of the Marxist-infused, racially-charged DEI "initiative" would also help.

[@mshat18]

A lot of people predicted this five to ten years ago. They’ve taken out one of the reasons people loved hockey in the first place. Fighting. It’s what made the game unique among other sports. You don’t see line brawls or goalie fights anymore. Also they desperately need more American stars on American teams.

[@renlysotherlover294]

Nah fighting isn’t the issue

[@b3n751]

Not even close to the issue. 40% of games are literally behind a paywall. Of course viewerships gonna be down. People cant even afford their own netflix accounts, theyre definitely not tuning into espn+ As for someone like myself, whos been watching hockey for 30years. Digital board ads that change during play killed this season for me. Literally the first regular season i havnt tuned into, my entire life. Ill catch the playoffs but thatll be about it until shit changes

[@mshat18]

Of course it’s an issue. Games being locked behind a paywall is as well but you can’t tell me the game itself is better today than 25 years ago. There’s a reason why the loudest cheers in the building was for fighting and big hits.

[@JuanTurks27]

@@b3n751 what a ridiculously stupid reason to not watch a sport

[@b3n751]

@@JuanTurks27 yeah i dont like being force fed ads. Literally a form of brain washing. They change the ads on the boards when the zone gets entered, specifically so the viewer notices it. Im not being force fed dogshit ads.

[@snakesonthismondaytofriday1750]

1-8 format. And 10 or 20 minute 3v3 overtime in regular season. Another thing that could help the NHL is making the games more available to watch. Allow for more personality. And for markets like South Florida and Seattle do some "fun" rule explaining in commentary or promos. Maybe get Snoop or PK on board to do that.

[@1snaj]

🤡

[@kidt3068]

I agree especially with the shootout. That goes back to when the nhl on fox would highlight the puck!! Stop appeasing the few “fans” that don’t like the pace of hockey

[@jimm_kirkk728]

100% right. What is the sense of a long regular only to face the next-best team in the 1st round.

[@cmac3530]

Woah... I don't think you can call any series with the Leafs in it a potential Conference Final series until the Leafs prove they can make it past the first round.

[@kirillthethrilll]

Lol buddy…. if they were in the west they’d be a lock for the WCF. Even if the seeding went back to what Sid wants (which he is 1000% right about) they’d be a lock to win a round

[@cmac3530]

​@@kirillthethrilll Oh yeah, they've never been given an "easy" road in the east... I forgot the loss to Columbus in the bubble didn't happen... Or the loss to the bottom seeded Canadiens the next year... LOL They're choke artists and will continue to be so until they finally win something.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

@@kirillthethrilll Lol found the Laughs fan that thinks they're anything but chokers. By the time they win a playoff series, everyone on this planet alongside our great grandchildren will already be dead! 😂

[@kirillthethrilll]

@@lelouchvibritannia4028 actually a caps fan who knows firsthand what a choking team is but aight 😂😂 again they’d dummy the west except your Avs and maybe the Jets with how they’re cooking this year. First time meeting a garbage avs fan that’s sick lol

[@kirillthethrilll]

@@cmac3530 I mean 50% of the bubble teams choked so that makes no sense. Columbus also swept the record tying Tampa team in the first round a few years back so again, your points invalid 😂

[@HughJorgan1]

As noted in the example many of the matchups are the same anyways (4 vs 5 and 3 vs 6) and the only teams getting "rewarded" are 1 and 2. And that's no guarantee as the 8th seed beat the 1st numerous times back when it was that format.

[@Ty-ww9lq]

NHL fanboying for the woke mob doesn’t help

[@KHoltzie]

1:53 1-8 (FLA WSH) 2-7 (CAR PIT) *3-6 (TOR BOS) 4-5 (NYR TB) *Original Six first round matchup there too! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@alexjones6190]

Mindless virtue signaling shows you lose about 40% of your customers

[@toddsullivan6962]

Like politicians they never listen to the people doing the work that makes them the money. They should be not just listening to Crosby but asking him and the rest of the players. They're the real fans of hockey. They grew up watching, playing, and dreaming of the Stanley Cup, I don't believe many if any owners or top brass can say that.

[@joecirin7025]

The metro division was brutal for years. For ages it was whoever won the pens vs caps series made the final. They had the top 3 teams in the conference for years and now people are starting to talk about it cuz it negatively impacts the leafs today

[@shotaholic1]

not sure I agree with Sid, considering the match ups are basically similar. however, I completely agree with Connor McDavid about the longer OT!! worst case, after an extended overtime and still tied…sudden death. not this multi-rounds of shoot out. MLB style, the visitors get first crack and the home team has a chance to tie/win. but hey, that’s just my two cents and I’m nothing more then a guy who’s been watching hockey for 40 years.

[@leonardlisacchi356]

Bettman is lost ... It's a friggin hockey game , not an LGBTQ gathering . Enough with trying to be woke , drop the puck and let's have at it .

[@cmacdhon]

Sid is absolutely correct. So is McDavid. Sometimes it's hard to believe that adult human beings are making the mind boggling decisions that are made by the NHL brass

[@oliverfurtado7657]

I also would like the 2 rounds of playoffs go best of 5 instead of best of 7 only semi finals and finals go 7 games

[@empire0]

It's all the woke bullshit that has caused a drop in viewership. Combine that with poor commentary teams, advertisements everywhere, it's just not the sport it was 20 years ago

[@hyperwarrior908]

I agree 100% with Sid. The new format is just disgusting. 2 top teams shouldn't be playing against each other in the first round.

[@jaykanou7331]

Also Espn is garbage plus the woke movement isn’t helping either.

[@SerasXHarkonnen]

As long as we keep seeing Toronto getting obliterated in the first round and Steve Dangle losing his mind over it, I really don't mind what the format is.

[@sammykays5858]

Drop all the woke bs if they want fans back.

[@spartuz71]

You better get ready because the woke bs as you say is here to stay bud. That's just the way it is. You're hitting your head against a brick wall if you think you and your Neanderthal homies will stop it. Lol

[@sp-nx4kf]

Thank you sid as a leafs fan its soo frustrating seeing this and no other team barely goes through it, really should be eastern final match zny way we could do a petition for this?

[@mediocrebs]

I agree, but also the current format makes for some amazing rivalries in the first round that from a viewing standpoint is entertaining

[@jackoakes1998]

Playoff hockey in general is entertaining asf, And it just means these "first round rivalries" meet later in the playoffs when ever more is on the line this being even more entertaining

[@alexandrapreston7283]

Rivalries don't mean shit anymore, they're not the same... players don't have the same grit, passion and hatred for each other to actually make it entertaining.

[@TheLradd]

• 10min 3 on 3 OT • 1 v 8 system. Brings new interesting matchups • Allow kicking goals. Non of this “kicking motion”. You want more goals.. then allow that, who cares. • Fire Betman. Get a new face. • 70 game season. Players get too injuries too frequently • Staggerd start times. When all games start at 6pm. Then all the games are at intermission at the same time

[@stephenmelbaz]

I agree with Sid, & the all stars was CRINGE, woke, trash

[@Marixa1979]

It doesn't matter what format you go with, people will still complain. There's no way to control the matchups completely and it'd be pointless to do so. If you're going to win the cup, you need to be the best team, if you need to rely on facing all the weaker teams and hope, then you're not worthy.

[@mikecolangelo4895]

GO WOKE GO BROKE

[@longballist]

I AGREE with Crosby. Changes needed: 1) Olympic size ice surface 2) make the net 6 inches taller and 1 foot wider. 3) all players wear cages 4) Zero tolerance on checking from behind 5) poking, pushing, hooking of the stick when a player is carrying the puck is fine but only with the blade of the checkers stick and only directed towards the puck. 6) the adoption of most NLL contact rules…

[@bryanhill6839]

Its boring to see the same matchups year after year. We need to see this changed asap

[@giodagrate5369]

I just hope they do a lot more pride nights. I think they should also make the Stanley Cup in pride colors. That’s the ticket to increasing viewership. As we know, the more woke you go, the better!!

[@alm4132]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@andreprefontaine3824]

and one player should do a transformation too became trans alexandria ovechkine

[@Mulukkis]

Agreed, 1-8 format would be better. But about Toronto. Yes, last year it was Tampa. But the year before that it was the Habs (lost) and the year before that the Blue Jackets in the qualifying round (lost). Who exactly do the need to face to win? Maybe they JUST have to learn how to win a round of playoff hockey.

[@joelhoughton3543]

Leafs fan, so obviously agree. The new format makes the toughest conference even tougher.

[@kidt3068]

A retired hockey player should be the commissioner not a ding dong in a suit

[@jimaugustine7718]

I could not agree with you more. We've been talking about this on our Podcast the last couple of weeks (Pens and Stuff Podcast). I think it would be better if you just got rid of the divisions altogether and just played EAST/WEST games and had a balance schedule. Then you take the top 16 teams in the entire league and play 1 v 16, 2 v 15, and so on. This would give you a lot of matchups that you wouldn't normally get that the viewers of the NHL would love to see. I think it makes winning a Cup even harder than it already is, and it makes the last couple of weeks of the season mean something for playoff positioning. Just my two-cents, but I loved this vid. Thanks for sharing!

[@izaksmith538]

I absolutely agree with Sid. I couldn’t believe when they changed it to this format. I get they wanted the division championship to mean something but why destroy the playoff structure for something 0 people in the viewing public give a rip about? AND, I couldn’t believe the crowd reaction to the player introductions at the All-Star game. It was like Hollywood barroom background conversation. How many empty seats does it take to fill the Panthers’ barn anyway? From a home-viewing standpoint, the introductions needed a medical warning for those seizure inducing, snap back camera shots of the players lit by one of great grandad’s incandescent flashlights- you know, the one with 3 C-cells in the handle that didn’t so much light things up as much as it just created shadows?

[@hezekiaB]

I 1000% agree. This obsession with division rivalries is getting old. Teams in the same division already play each other the most in the regular season. Forcing them to play in the first round gets tiring. It also screws over teams in the toughest division as you’ve said. Plus those bolts/leafs games are hard to watch as their unis are near clones of one another.

[@RGP43_]

I feel like first round should be divisional, but after that no. If that’s even possible

[@chrisbat88]

Bettman will never learn. Maybe if he actually listens to the fans and players on how to improve the game, the viewership wouldn't of went that much downhill to begin with! Sometimes changes are ok but with this playoff format it's an absolute joke, in almost every other sport, NFL, MLB, (I like the new NBA one bc it avoids teams tanking their season) Teams get REWARDED by getting 1st round byes if u have a good season! Wake the f up NHL, get yout act together before it gets worse!

[@willrobinson1671]

One thing I'll give Bettman credit for is how he handled the Provorov situation. When asked, he basically told the reporter to go piss up a rope.

[@RickyJSports]

I agree with syd go back to top 8 teams 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7 and so on... they need to fix it now!!

[@basilcarroll9729]

The NHL should consider a wider ice surface, not the 100 foot wide European rink but the hybrid 92.5 ft wide rink that the world JR championship used in the Czech Republic a few years ago when Canada beat Russia 4-3 for the gold. The extra room would make a better NHL game to watch.

[@ericmckenzie4045]

I agree with Sid....I have lost my love for hockey especially now that the NHL is going wok!!

[@ninjatreepig]

I agree all the way, they also need to figure out the reffing. I can't say if it is rigged or not but there are so many missed or just plain bad calls it is exhausting. So many times I have seen a team not get called on a penalty then the opposite team does the exact same thing but do get called for it. There is no consistency whatsoever. I know it is pretty well impossible to see everything that happens but with 4 refs on the ice, there should be more being seen.

[@richardthompson6366]

No shoot out, regular overtime. Return to a better playoff setup, make the regular season more meaningful, make teams earn it.

[@BloodandSoilNS]

100% agree with Sid.

[@MrChrisbbennett]

Also, both teams (tampa and colorado) were pretty badly banged up when the final started. Hell, half of the Avs roster was playing with injuries that would have sidelined any player in the regular season. There is a reason why they struggled with injuries this season

[@shawnwharry952]

the 2 teams in the final are always banged up. its not basketball.

[@MrChrisbbennett]

@@shawnwharry952 that's the point I was trying to make. A lot of promenant hockey fans like to use the injury angle as an excuse

[@kokobleu]

Bruins fan here, everyone thinks Toronto is soft but forgets to mention the injuries they cause in the post season. They might lose but they can hit and do damage

[@danryan9386]

NHL should take back control of their TV broadcast rights. Sell to each team's local station(s) and take a percentage of ad revenue. Blackouts for local fans decimate viewer ratings. Then open the door for bigger companies, ESPN, TSN, Bally's, to stream games

[@calebowman9782]

It’s not the playoff format. Or at least, that’s not the biggest issue right now. Shootouts suck, and the deal with ESPN was sooo bad. So many blackouts and illegal streaming to even see a god damn game.

[@Seawizz203]

I agree with Syd. It seems ludicrous to have two top teams compete in an early match up. The playoffs should build with talent and intensity, not peter out in a war of attrition.

[@samuelkobe]

The thing about this format is it’s been a criticized from day one. The NHL hasn’t listened to the fans, and now they could potentially not listen to their stars. They should switch back.

[@markcmann]

It should be the top four in each division for the first two rounds, then winner of each division battles the other winner in their same conference, followed by the Stanley Cup Final. If not that format, then top 1-8 in each conference (1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, etc.) and third round winner of each conference play for the Cup.

[@Scottie444]

Leafs fan here..... obviously I'm in agreement. 😁 When Sid speaks..... Folks should listen.

[@JackHaveman52]

It's absolutely nuts that the Leafs and Lightning met in the first round. I predicted that the Lightning would get beat because they had the harder road to the finals, starting with having to play one of the best teams in the league right off the bat. There are a lot of reasons that the League is having issues this year, including involving politics and ideology as a marketing tool. We want to watch hockey, not argue over our personal religious and political views. We want the excitement of the game, not the anger elicited by arguments over stuff that has nothing to do with hockey.

[@beammeup1930]

I love the old format..it's easy to understand

[@mexbex1671]

In the old format, the Oilers played the Stars 6 years in a row in the first round. I like the fact that a team that doesn't have less points than the last place team, ends up 3rd. Most points should make the pkayoffs

[@BlackHatAndy]

How is viewership down when the NHL has done their best to show how inclusive they are? That and making a softer league with no hits or fights, I'm puzzled as to how the ratings could be getting worse.