2005-06 NAHL Playoff System Announced

From Bozeman's Website

Quote:

ROUND 1 – DIVISION SEMI-FINAL SERIES Teams are seeded within their own division based upon their finish in the final 2005-06 NAHL regular season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy in the NAHL Rules and Regulations will be applied to determine teams’ order of finish. The team seeded first in each division shall compete in a best of five series of games against the team seeded fourth in the same division and the team seeded second in each division shall compete in a series of games against the team seeded third in the same division. (Note - If Fairbanks and Wasilla qualify for West Division playoff competition, they may compete in a series of games against each other during Round 1 regardless of seeding if the other two West Division teams which qualify for playoff competition agree to compete in a series of games against each other.) ROUND 2 – DIVISION FINAL SERIES Teams that win a division semi-final series shall be re-seeded within their own division based upon their finish in the final 2005-06 NAHL regular season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy in the NAHL Rules and Regulations will be applied to determine teams’ order of finish. The division final will be a best of seven format. The national tournament schedule will be released at a later date.

From the NAHL Playoff Page (2005)

Quote:

PLAYOFF SEEDING: Teams that qualify for the playoffs shall be seeded within their own division according to their final place in the regular season standings. If necessary, teams shall be seeded according to the tie-breaking policy illustrated in the NAHL Rules and Regulations. Those tie-breaking criteria are 1)the most wins, 2) total goal differential, 3) head-to-head competition, 4) goal differential in the head-to-head competition, 5) coin flip.

Nothing particularly earth-shattering here. I'm still waiting for the official word that Youngstown is hosting Nationals, something I reported on the blog months and months ago. Not sure what the hold-up is about. The games are suppose to be played (look away Jtornado, this is about the CHL) in the new downtown arena that's normally home to the CHL Youngstown SteelHounds.

(okay Jtornado, you can open your eyes again)

Marc

Is it just me or does it seem a bit ridiculous that all but 4 teams will make the playoffs? Not to mention the fact that if the season ended right now one .500 team Minnesota and 3 teams well below .500 (Traverse City 12-21-5 .382, Wasilla 20-26-0 .435, and Billings 14-22-7 .407) would make the playoffs.

I realize that with 20 teams it is somewhat difficult to have divisional playoffs without including almost everybody. I think that regular season play and making the playoffs should mean something. How can it mean much when a .407 team is in the psot season?

Unfortunately, it's the only option. I've heard suggestions about the top three teams in each division qualify with the regular season division champs getting a first-round bye, then playing the winner of the opening series between the second and third place teams. There would be a conflict if the host team finished second or third in the division. If they won their first-round match-up, then the division champs would get in regardless of how they do in the next series against the host team. In other words, if the host team makes it to their division's finals, the team they would face in the finals would automatically make it to the championship tournament.

The only other option would be to eliminate the host site and make it a true playoff, with the division winners being re-seeded for the league semi-finals and finals, making them a best-of-seven format.

The post above doesn't mention anything about the host team playing as in years past. If the host team does in fact play in the finals there could potentialy be a 5 team finals.

It could also mean that only 3 teams would not play in the post season if the host team happened to be one of the 4 who did not qualify during the regular season but played in the finals simply because they were the host team.

Sorry I didn't elaborate, TW. The previous post carried the assumption, and the fact, that the host team gets an automatic bid to the tournament. That won't change as long as there's a neutral site. If you're willing and able to dish out roughly $100,000 (trust me) to cover expenses for the other four teams, then you 'deserve' an invitation. Factor in another $2,000-2,500 per game for rent if they hold it at the new Chevy Centre. It will be a five-team tournament; the next question that the league will have to address is the tournament format.

Doogie,

If they were to go with a Round Robin as in the past a 5 team finals just went from an 8 game tourney to a 12 game tourney. The 12 games would only be if they eliminate the 5th seeded team following the Round Robin.

I can't really see how they could come up with an equitable format without staying with a Round Robin format.

Is it true that teams going to Nationals don't pay their own expenses the host team does? If that is the case why would anyone go through the major expense and headache of hosting a tournament. With ticket sales being impacted by the fact that neither team in most games is a home team, I would not think there would be any real financial return to the team once all expenses are considered.

Would the chance to win a National Championship be enough? Maybe, but you would be competing against the 4 elite teams of the league. Your chances of winning would be slim.

An alternative would be if the league intends to pick up major expenses. That would allow the host team benefit financialy from the tournament without a 5th team playing.