>* On the playoff format, he says, "I'd like to send the No. 1 team
>right to the semifinals and keep the eighth and ninth seeds out of the
>playoffs.  We would have quarterfinals with No. 2 playing No. 7; three
>playing six and four playing five.  Then we'd have the semifinals and
>finals."
[...]
>On the playoff format, my only criticism of the proposed format change
>is that I wonder if the top seed wants to be off for two weeks before
>the semifinals.  On the other hand, this was part of the league's
>playoff structure from 1985-90 until the addition of Merrimack gave
>the league 8 teams.  Being away from competition for two weeks would
>be a minus; pluses I see would be 1) rest, 2) automatic entry into the
>semifinals at the new FleetCenter, and 3) not having your RPI rating
>hurt by facing a very low seed for possibly 2 or 3 games in the first
>round.
 
I actually rather like the idea. It will help make the regular season more
meaningful, IMHO.
 
The question whether the top seed would want two weeks off could be solved
rather easily. Why not give a team the option of playing or taking the bye?
If the Champion wants to play, the option to take the bye would then be
passed to the second-place team, and so on until someone takes it.
 
See you later,
John
 
--
John C.K. Edwards        Stats Geek, Ottawa Jr Senators (26-25-3 59pts) (CJHL)
Carleton U., Law IV                   I don't give a damn about being liked,
[log in to unmask]           but I sure as hell intend to be respected.
Canadian [Tier II] Jr. A standings: http://www.eng.carleton.ca/chat/~jedwards