In 2022, 23 of 31 teams will qualify for the AHL playoffs as the league announced its revamped postseason structure today. The minor league will play five rounds to award the Calder Cup, including a best-of-three divisional series. AHL CEO Scott Howson released a short statement:
Our clubs and their National Hockey League partners recognize the importance of playoff races and postseason experience on overall player development. Expanding the Calder Cup Playoff field will allow some 150 additional players to play more meaningful games in pursuit of a championship.
All but two teams in each division will qualify for the postseason, meaning six Atlantic, five North, five Central and seven Pacific teams will be in the playoffs in 2022. The top two teams in the Atlantic, the top three in the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific will all receive byes through the first round. That round will be a best-of-three between divisional opponents. The following round, which will include 16 re-seeded teams, will be a best-of-five, as will the third round. The Conference Finals and Calder Cup Finals will both be best-of-seven series to crown an AHL champion.
The AHL playoffs will start after the regular season concludes on April 24 and are expected to finish by June 23. The Calder Cup hasn’t been handed out since 2019, when the Charlotte Checkers took home the league championship.
Ugh.
This wouldn’t have anything to do with trying to increase revenues now, would it?
The NHL will no doubt go down this same lame route in the future as well. The sponsers will want it, and the sponsers essentially run the league now.
Doesn’t the NBA do it with the play in game Keeps your team relevant unless you just have a awful year