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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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Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights after scoring the game winning goal against the Dallas Stars in overtime.
Max Pacioretty #67 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with Brayden McNabb #3 of the Vegas Golden Knights after scoring the game winning goal against the Dallas Stars in overtime. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Pro 2 – Hockey is back!

This is both simple and obvious but it appears as though the best chance of the Golden Knights returning this year is now tied to the 24-team Playoff format.

While not perfect, it seems to be the best solution of all the different ideas that have been floated around out there since the sporting world went on lockdown in early March.

We seem to be closer than ever to hockey returning and, let’s face it, there was never going to be a perfect solution given the uncertain times we currently live in.

Plus, as far as the Golden Knights are concerned, they absorb limited negative impact with the 24-team format.

They will still be a top seed no matter what and they will still be crowned winners of the Pacific Division for what that is worth at this point.

But they are going to be well placed as any team once hockey resumes, and that’s all you can pretty much ask for right now.

Mats Zuccarello #36 of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the game against the Calgary Flames.
Mats Zuccarello #36 of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the game against the Calgary Flames.(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Con 2 – Re-seeding

One major kink the NHL needs to iron out in this 24-team Playoff format is whether or not they will re-seed once the official 16-team postseason gets underway.

If they don’t reseed and keep a bracket format then the Golden Knights will face either the Nashville Predators or the Arizona Coyotes in the First Round of the Playoffs.

As we mapped out in a previous slide, both teams could pose a big problem given their star power and their abundance of potent weapons.

However, if the NHL opted to reseed after the Play-In games then there is every chance that Vegas could face the Minnesota Wild which would be a far easier matchup.

Plus, there is the added caveat of what the NHL is planning on doing with the three-game tournament between the top seeds in each conference.

Is there a chance the Golden Knights could claim the No. 1 seed? If that’s the case and reseeding is the preferred method, Vegas would get a more favorable matchup in a best-of-seven series.

Next. 24-team format approved, lots to be ironed out. dark

Overall, there is lots to work out and to be finalized but, all in all, the 24-team Playoff format has more positives than negatives for the Vegas Golden Knights.

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