Why Adding Additional NHL Playoff Teams Would Be a Bad, Bad Idea

There are a lot of changes that the NHL should consider making to improve the quality of the league for teams, players, and fans, but adding more playoff teams each season is definitely not a good idea.

Back in December, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com reported on the possibility of adding more playoff teams. This was a topic before the NHLPA rejected the new realignment plan in January. Since realignment could be discussed this summer during the CBA negotiations, let's open up this discussion again.

Per LeBrun:

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One idea being floated out there by one NHL team is to add a play-in playoff round, a best-of-three between the fourth- and fifth-place teams in each conference before the 16-team playoff tournament begins.

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LeBrun also received Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke's opinion on the subject:

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"I can only speak for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but we have no interest in adding playoff teams," Burke told ESPN.com Friday. "The percentage of teams that makes the playoffs is healthy and it's good. It should not be increased.

"This idea has no chance, in my opinion. I think it would devalue the playoffs and it would devalue the regular season. The playoffs have to represent merit."

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Even the most passionate Burke opponents would probably agree with him here. In very few instances in any sport is adding more playoff teams a good idea. Maybe in the NFL, certainly in baseball, but for the NBA and NHL, there's absolutely no need for more playoff teams.

Adding more playoff teams could result in teams not trying as hard to make bold trades and free-agent signings because they know that nine or 10 teams instead of eight will make the playoffs. Having fewer spots will make each team try harder to earn a playoff berth, which in turn, makes for more exciting and entertaining hockey.

A common argument by people in favor of adding more playoff sports is that doing so would create more late-season interest in the playoff race in a greater number of cities. While this argument certainly has some credibility, I don't think it is an issue with the NHL. The playoff race is already an exciting time for most NHL cities.

In baseball, fans of teams that are awful and out of the playoff race by the All-Star break have little to cheer for during the final months of the season, so adding more playoff teams to give those clubs a chance is a good idea. I don't think this a significant issue in hockey since it's possible that teams can make up huge deficits in the standings in the final weeks and months.

Baseball also doesn't have a salary cap, so adding more playoff spots to give small market teams that can't spend like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox a better chance to make the postseason makes sense. If the NHL didn't have a salary cap then this would be a much different debate, but it does.

If the NHL is determined to make changes to the playoffs, then there are other issues that need to be addressed way before the thought of adding more teams.

• Division Seeds: There is no reason for a team to earn a top three seed for winning their division. Divisions don't mean much so there's no reason to reward teams that finish on top each season. The Florida Panthers receiving a No. 3 seed in the playoffs last year because they won the Southeast Division with a points total that ranked 7th best in the conference is a joke.
• Length of Playoffs: I'm not a fan of making the playoffs shorter by starting them a week to two earlier, which would force the league to either start the regular season earlier or give the players fewer off days. Ending the playoff earlier, however, would help the league not have to compete against the NBA Finals in TV ratings battles, which could be a good thing.

For many reasons, adding more teams through an extra round or anything else is just absurd. The playoff format under the current conference alignment is perfect. If teams aren't making the playoffs consistently, then they must make the necessary changes to ensure they have a better chance.

Adding playoff spots should not be anything the league considers when there are greater and more important problems to address.

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