BBKL Playoff Format (Final Vote)

[Fraser]

My personal opinion is that if we're going to minimize the value of divisions, we may as well go all the way and just seed 1-16.

that option only received 5 votes in the previous poll

Whoopdee do? Everyone will adapt to whatever is decided, but logically I don't see how you can minimize the importance of divisional play and in the same breath promote the importance of conference play just because that's what the NHL used to do. There is no need for divisions if division play doesn't really matter. It defeats the purpose of what divisions were created for in the 1st place.

/Rant

Agreed why I voted option 1 here.

[kimmer]

.

[Bruyns]

I voted 1-16 in the first poll so I agree with you Casper. Divisions are mainly for travel purposes and that doesn't apply so why not just have the 16 best teams. I think moving away from divisional playoffs is definitely the right call so at least we are doing that.

[Shoalzie]

This current playoff format has existed since the league realigned from 6 divisions down to 4...and the Detroit and Columbus moved to the East for 2013-14. The old 6 division format was kind of a mess but they did have the top 8 in each conference qualify.

Still need divisions to have division winners.

We're essentially moving into a direction where division play isn't as important but we still have divisions because we're giving division winners the #1 and #2 in the conference playoffs. It's basically the playoff format prior to 2013-14. You can argue back then it took away the value of divisional play but it definitely kept the importance of intra-conference play.

We're a fantasy league where we could've just done away with divisions and conferences but based on the last round of voting...there's enough support where still like having two conferences and we'll always have an East vs. West matchup in our finals.

[Matthew]

I've been waiting 11 years to unseat Steve as division champ.

[Shoalzie]

If the goal of setting up the playoffs is to reward the best regular season teams...all it takes is one bad week to eliminate a great regular season team. That can in any playoff format.

What's really the best way to measure the success of a fantasy team? A roto league accounts for season-long production. Head-to-head just means you have to be better in more categories than the other team in a single week. Is that honestly the best measure of who is the best team?

I'm not suggesting we move to roto but you can deconstruct anything we're doing right now and say the actual best team might not always win the championship. And we can deconstruct the categories we use and say penalty minutes or +/- being a win with the same value as goals or assists doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Shoalzie]

I've been waiting 11 years to unseat Steve as division champ.

There's a good chance someone will.

[Fraser]

Yea me

[Matthew]

Bump. Let's try and get the final 10 voters, guys.

[Shoalzie]

It's a close vote, please chime in if you haven't. 32 members of the league...you guys all have votes.

[dave1959]

Is this now the final result?

[Handsome&FairMike]

Gonna say yes… but Let’s close it the end of this week.

[Shoalzie]

If you took the standings right now (not including this week's results)...the top 6 teams in each conference, both divisions are represented with 3 teams each. Essentially, the top 8 in each conference would be the same in either format.

Also worth noting, the two best teams in each conference right now are the division leaders...who are already slotted to be the top 2 seeds.

Current matchups in the West...

Dallas-Nashville
Vancouver-Los Angeles
Edmonton-Anaheim
Minnesota-Colorado

Seattle in 9th

In the East...

Buffalo-Florida
Philadelphia-Toronto
Washington-Pittsburgh
Ottawa-Tampa Bay

New Jersey in 9th

[Fraser]

Funny how we are forecasting so many divisional matchups