1 Ottawa Senators* --68
2 Philadelphia Flyers*--63
3 Carolina Hurricanes*-56
4 Montréal Canadiens -65
5 New Jersey Devils --63
6 Pittsburgh Penguins-63
7 New York Rangers --60
8 Boston Bruins ------59
9 Atlanta Thrashers --56
10 New York Islanders 54
11 Buffalo Sabres ----53
It's very possible that NYI or Buffalo finishes with a top 8 record but does not make the playoffs. Should the NHL change its rules so that the winner of an incompetent division does not make the playoffs, or should they keep it as is? I think they should guarantee the team a playoff spot, but that they aren't confined to the top 3.
For example, Carolina in this scenario would be the 8th seed. It's unfair that the 6th seed currently has a better matchup than the 5th, because #4 is likely a good team that isn't able to knock off the conference winner.
The way the system is set up, the team that wins the division deserves their spot. Doesn't matter if the division is weak, they still have to win their games and that's anything other than a given in the new parity filled NHL.
It will be interesting to see how the team that wins the SE does in the post season. Probably isn't that far fetched to think that a few teams will be underestimating them.
Funny, the Southeast beat two of Canada's teams to win the cup, so I say yes, they do deserve a spot.
ya that is funny.. how long ago was that now? So you're basing this year's southeast team's performances on what was going on in that division 2 years ago? That makes a lot of sense. Bottom line is that without that guaranteed 3rd spot, the whole division is out of the playoffs. (For now) The rules need changed.
Yes, and its absurd to say they don't with the current unbalanced schedule system.
If there was a balanced schedule, and all teams were on equal footing with regard to the opponents the face, then this argument has merit, but until that happens, it does not.
ya that is funny.. how long ago was that now? So you're basing this year's southeast team's performances on what was going on in that division 2 years ago? That makes a lot of sense. Bottom line is that without that guaranteed 3rd spot, the whole division is out of the playoffs. (For now) The rules need changed.
Should the NHL change its rules so that the winner of an incompetent division does not make the playoffs, or should they keep it as is? I think they should guarantee the team a playoff spot, but that they aren't confined to the top 3.
I dont think incompetent is the correct word to use there. The southeast has some of the best talent in the league and also a couple of cups to prove it.
Are you just upset because your NY teams might not make it? then tell them to win some games.
Given their brutal start and big turnaround, i'd say the Thrashers do.
Carolina's gotten pretty sad through injuries. And Cam Ward may be a one-playoff wonder and not the second coming of Patrick Roy afterall.
Tampa Bay is brutal, just brutal.
Florida is hard to get a handle on. One game they look great, the next awful. Vokoun helps them out a lot though. But doesn't Jokinen want out now? Ouch.
And Washington might deserve a shot too. Only because Ovechkin would be fun to watch. Scoring a ton of goals and carrying his team on his back while going out in the first round.
And no rules need changing. They win their division, they get a playoff berth. Sounds fair to me. Just because the Gateway Conference in NCAA basketball sucks doesn't mean they should get their automatic bid for the conference champion taken away.
The rules need changed.
