The league announced on Monday that, while they’ve told players they can return to their homes outside of their team’s city, they hope to have training camps open by the beginning of May. One rumored option for the rest of the season, if and when the NHL returns, would give some teams an unexpected lifeline.
According to Sport-Express writer Igor Eronko, the NHL is considering a modified 24-team playoff format, which would add eight more teams to the usual 16 that make the postseason. TSN’s Darren Dreger later confirmed that at least one team considers it a “strong option”.
Presumably, the format would include an equal number of teams from each conference, meaning there’d be 12 representatives from the East and 12 from the West.
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That number isn’t as random as it seems. Based on the current standings, it would mean that every team with a mathematical playoff chance would make the postseason. It makes a degree of sense, given that it would be unfair to eliminate teams if they’re still theoretically eligible for the postseason.
Remarkably, that would mean the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks, who sit in 12th place in their respective conferences, would earn playoff berths. According to Hockey-Reference.com, the Canadiens’ current playoff chances are 0.1 percent while the Blackhawks’ are at 2.5 percent.
It would be a sweet deal for the eight teams currently on the outside looking in and nothing short of a miracle for Montreal and Chicago. The Central Division would also make history by sending every one of its teams to the postseason.
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There would likely be a preliminary round of playoff games among the lower-placed teams to whittle the field down to the standard 16. Higher-placed teams, possibly the three leaders of each division, are expected to get a bye until after that point.
These are the 24 teams that would make the postseason under such a format:
Eastern Conference
Metropolitan Division
Washington Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Western Conference
Central Division
St. Louis Blues
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Winnipeg Jets
Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
Arizona Coyotes
