Who the Rangers could play in the postseason
The NHL might pull off a 24-team playoff in the near future. Nothing’s been finalized, but it’s looking like the New York Rangers will be included. If so, who will they play and how do they matchup?
As you know, the NHL wants to resume this season with a 24-team playoff. The format and whether the New York Rangers will be included remain uncertain, but a report from Sportsnet Canada late Wednesday may be cause for optimism for the Blueshirts and their fans.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the league is considering a conference-format to determine which teams make the playoffs. Based on points percentage, the top 12 teams in the Eastern and Western conferences would qualify — including the Rangers.
The top four seeds in each conference would receive a bye — and participate in a three-game tournament to get some competitive icetime — while seeds five through twelve meet in best-of-five “play-in” rounds.
Based on points percentages (not to be confused with points totals) when the NHL paused play on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the top four seeds in the East are Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. Top four in the West are St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas.
The best-of-five “play-in” rounds would be followed by best-of-seven first round series’.
Eastern Conference “play-ins”
No. 5 Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 Montreal
No. 6 Carolina vs. No. 11 Rangers
No. 7 Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida
No. 8 Toronto vs. No. 9 Columbus
Western Conference “play-ins”
No. 5 Edmonton vs. No. 12 Chicago
No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona
No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota
No. 8 Calgary vs. No. 9 Winnipeg
First round – East
No. 1 Boston vs. Toronto/Columbus winner
No. 2 Tampa Bay vs. Islanders/Florida winner
No. 3 Washington vs. Carolina/Rangers winner
No. 4 Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh/Montreal winner
First round – West
No. 1 St. Louis vs. Calgary/Winnipeg winner
No. 2 Colorado vs. Nashville/Arizona winner
No. 3 Vegas vs. Vancouver/Minnesota winner
No. 4 Dallas vs. Edmonton/Chicago winner
Friedman added that the NHL and NHLPA have a call scheduled for Thursday to discuss the conference-format. However, he also stressed that nothing is finalized. Which means the other playoff formats reportedly being considered by the league could still be on the table.
One reported scenario awards a playoff spot to the top six teams in each division based on points totals, regardless of whether one club has more than an intraconference opponent in the other division.
However, it’s doubtful the NHL would choose this format. If it does, the Metropolitan Division’s Rangers (37-28-5, 79 points) and Central Division’s Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-8, 72) would be out, essentially punished for being in powerful divisions (each team’s in seventh place).
Meantime, Montreal (31-31-9, 71) and Buffalo (30-31-8, 68) would be rewarded simply by being in the weaker Atlantic Division. Neither has any business getting a pass to the postseason ahead of the Rangers. None.
While a postseason without the Blueshirts probably would delight some fanbases, the NHL could take fairly substantial hits in television ratings and revenue.
Consider: In the fifteen seasons since the lockout of 2004-05, the Rangers ranked among the top-10 in road attendance fourteen times. Of those, eleven were top-5, including two as the league’s top road draw.
People want to see the Rangers. Some toast every win, others relish each loss. Either way, the bottom line is, the Blueshirts are good for the league’s bottom line.
Know what else would be good for the NHL? Blackhawks’ stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in these playoffs as opposed to Anaheim (29-33-9, 67). You read that correctly. If the league opts to reward six teams in each division, then it’s Ducks in, ‘Hawks out.
Imagine NHL officials trying to justify to fans, networks, and sponsors the unforced playoff exclusions of Original Six teams based in the megamarkets of New York City and Chicago. Yeah, that wouldn’t be good.
Which brings us to another option the league’s reportedly considering, that of having the top three teams in each division qualify with the other six clubs determined by total points, regardless of their division.
If the NHL takes this path, the top eight clubs would sit out while the bottom four battle in best-of-three “play-in” round. The winners would then play the No. 7 and 8 seeds in a second “play-in” for one of two wild cards in each conference.
Once the wild cards are determined, the NHL would get the “regular” playoffs started.
Under this scenario, the Rangers and Blackhawks would be in (and deservedly so). The Rangers’ 79 points would place them fourth in the Atlantic, while the entire Central Division would make the postseason.
Here’s how the “play-in” rounds would look in this format:
Eastern Conference First “play-in” round
No. 11 Florida (35-26-8, 78 points) vs. No. 10 Rangers
No. 12 Montreal vs. No. 9 Islanders (35-23-10, 80)
Second “play-in” round
Lowest seed vs. No. 7 Carolina (38-25-5, 81)
Highest seed vs. No. 8 Columbus (33-22-15, 81)
Winners earn the conference’s wild cards
Western Conference First “play-in” round
No. 12 Chicago vs. No. 9 Vancouver
No. 11 Arizona vs. No. 10 Minnesota
Second “play-in” round
Lowest seed vs. No. 7 Winnipeg
Highest seed vs. No. 8 Nashville
Winners earn the conference’s wild cards.
Assuming there will even be a postseason that includes the Rangers, how do they match up against their potential opponents? We’ll start with the two teams that could play if there are two best-of-three play-in rounds to determine the wild card teams.