Board of Governors confirms expanded playoffs for next year
This morning, American Hockey League's board of governors officially voted in favour of keeping an expanded playoffs of 23 teams for next season.
The AHL has now used a 23 team playoffs for the last two years, implemented as a temporary measure to boost revenues coming out of the Covid seasons. All teams and owners have voiced praise for the system, and it will be kept another year - until the issue is more permanently addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement.
Many sport leagues have been transitioning to an expanded playoffs to include more teams, more games, and more revenue. Seeing this change happen in the AHL could always be seen as a test-run for the NHL, but just two years ago Gary Bettman shot down the idea of expanded playoff hard.
Having half our team eligible, I think is the right balance. I think it creates great competition throughout the regular season, and makes games more meaningful.
-Gary Bettman
-Gary Bettman
While many fans of hockey may want to see expanded playoffs to see their favourite teams qualify for the postseason, Gary Bettman is actually right in this rare instance. Having a smaller playoffs gives teams more incentive to have greater regular seasons, and always makes playoff games that much better because they're so exclusive. Still, if the AHL finds it to be a massive success, there's potential that the NHL revisits the idea to cater to their most important interest - generating more money for the league.
Source: BR Open Ice
AHL confirms expanded playoffs again
| POLL | ||
Would you like expanded playoffs in the NHL as well? | ||
| Yes, need more teams in | 57 | 26 % |
| No, it's perfect as is | 151 | 68.9 % |
| See Results | 11 | 5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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