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Vegas Golden Knights: Pros and cons of a 24-team Playoff format

By Andrew Steele-Davis

Ryan Ellis #4 of the Nashville Predators knocks the puck away from Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ryan Ellis #4 of the Nashville Predators knocks the puck away from Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Nick Holden #22 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals.
Nick Holden #22 of the Vegas Golden Knights and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Pro 1 – Chance to knock off the rust

One of the biggest concerns throughout the process of the NHL searching for a way to return has been players going from 0-100.

By that we mean teams jumping straight into intense competition after a couple of months sat on the couch.

After all, while some players have access to home gyms, the vast majority of the NHL haven’t been able to get on the ice other than those back home in Europe.

However, under the proposal that was given the green light on Friday, those top seeds including the Golden Knights will get to play a three-game in-conference tournament before the Playoffs officially get underway.

While only three games, add that to the Training Camp that will take place first and that should be ample time for the Knights to shake off any rust and get back into the groove of things.

Players should still be in game shape anyway so it should just be a case of regaining that sharpness and speed.

Plus, with the possibility that the three-game tournament could go towards seeding for the actual postseason, there will be an edge to those games that will help the Golden Knights get back into the swing of things more quickly.

With Vegas at the peak of their powers prior to the sporting world going on lockdown, it hopefully won’t take them long to get back to that stage and a mini tournament before the real business begins should help.

Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators skates against the St. Louis Blues.
Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators skates against the St. Louis Blues. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Con 1 – Tougher Matchups

With 16 teams slugging it out for the right to punch their Playoff ticket, that certainly shakes things up and makes the postseason picture a lot more interesting.

For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins were battling it out at the top of the Metro Division prior to the NHL going on hiatus, but they will now have to go up against a Montreal Canadiens team boasting Carey Price.

If Price was to get hot all of a sudden then, not only could it spell the end for the Penguins, but it could mean trouble for other teams with serious Stanley Cup aspirations.

Then there are the Golden Knights. Set to be given a bye, they will await the winner of the Play-In between the Nashville Predators and the Arizona Coyotes.

Granted, that could change if the three-game tournament between top seeds dictate seedings for the First Round of the postseason, but let’s just assume it will either be the Predators or the Coyotes.

And neither team will be straightforward.

The Predators, while they had their struggles during the regular-season, boast a loaded roster led by elite defenseman Roman Josi, who was having a Norris Trophy-caliber season with 65 points (16 goals, 49 assists) in 69 games.

They also pack plenty of firepower and they will be a force to be reckoned with if Pekka Rinne can get hot at the right time.

Then consider the Coyotes. Despite falling off a cliff in the wake of the Trade Deadline, they will be given a second chance to put things right.

Boasting two elite stars in Taylor Hall and Phil Kessel, they certainly have the weapons needed to right the ship and make some serious noise.

So, in a nutshell, the Golden Knights won’t have an easy start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs but, as they say, to be the best you need to beat the best.

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