NHL announces 24-team playoff format and a detailed plan to return to play

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman held a press conference today to outline the NHL’s plan to return to play with a 24-team playoff format.

Still not used to seeing Bettman talk without being booed https://t.co/xnWwD1MHE7

— Stevie Potter (@Stevie_Jordyn) May 26, 2020

Per CBS Sports, here are the details about the playoff format that Bettman outlined:

• There is no set start date for the return of play
• Two hub cities —  one for Eastern Conference games and one for Western Conference games — will be announced at a later date
• Teams will be limited to 50 personnel in their respective hub city. A small number of support staff will also be permitted in event arenas
• A comprehensive COVID-19 testing system will be put in place
• Phase 2 of the return to play plan is expected to begin in early June, but there’s still no official date
• Phase 3 will include the start of training camp and is targeted for early July
• Phase 4, which has no target date yet, will include the return of play with clubs facing off in two hub cities for round robins, qualifying rounds, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs

There are currently 10 cities under consideration to be one of the two “Return to Play” hub cities:

There are currently 10 cities under consideration to be one of the two Return to Play hub cities. pic.twitter.com/Nv3hZFnLFb

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 26, 2020

With the Flyers being a top 4 seed – they will enter a Round Robin to determine the Top 4 seeding.

Which Eastern Conference series would you be most excited to see in the Qualifying Round?

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 26, 2020

Everyone else:

East

• No. 5 Penguins vs. No. 12 Canadiens
• No. 6 Hurricanes vs. No. 11 Rangers
• No. 7 Islanders vs. No. 10 Panthers
• No. 8 Maple Leafs vs. No. 9 Blue Jackets

West

• No. 5 Oilers vs. No. 12 Blackhawks
• No. 6 Predators vs. No. 11 Coyotes
• No. 7 Canucks vs. No. 10 Wild
• No. 8 Flames vs. No. 9 Jets

Gary Bettman also stated that the league has not yet decided if it will be a bracket format or determined by seeding following the opening round. (Please be bracket format)

The First Round will be in a best-of-five series format while the Second Round will transition to a best-of-seven series format.

The Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals will also be in a traditional best-of-seven series.

Look, all I know is that the Flyers were absolutely crushing people before the NHL suspended play. It would be overly fitting to have them win a Stanley Cup during the fucked up year.

With the MLB completely screwing up talks to resume play, it’s great to see the NHL making the right moves.

Hopefully – the NBA will soon follow suit…

The league is targeting July 22 as a restart date, per @AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/MnajovM7th

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) May 26, 2020