In a message dated 3/26/01 8:51:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< No offense a "Bye" is given as a carrot for being a top team in the league
as well as college hockey and is the result of having a good season. It is
fair. Deal with it.
>>
Why not make the lower-seeded teams carry 5-pound weights on their skates?
That would be even more of a carrot for "being a top team in the league."
With a 16-team tournament, the top seeded teams would still be rewarded by
playing the lower-seeded teams in the opening round. They just wouldn't have
the obvious advantage of playing a team that had played the night before.