Crosby Wants Playoff Change; Bettman Says ‘Not So Fast’

Good morning and happy Monday, February 6th.

Congrats to our readers who predicted the Atlantic Division would win the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Florida this past weekend. 🌴🎇

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby would prefer the NHL return to the No. 1 vs. No. 8 conference playoff format. But NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear that won’t happen anytime soon.

The Crosby lobbying and Bettman’s response were both delivered during All-Star weekend in Sunrise, Florida.

“I like the 1-to-8 just because the regular season is as difficult as it is, teams should be rewarded,” Crosby said. “That’s probably the best way to be rewarded, even though there isn’t a ton of difference. I like that version a little bit better.”

Under the current system, the top three teams in each division qualify, plus two wildcard teams with the next-best records. The seeding is No. 1-4 in each division.

Bettman said changing the format is more complicated than you realize.

“You've got to also look at changing the wildcard," he said. "You've got to start looking at the matchups in terms of how many times everybody's playing everybody else if you're having conference-based playoffs…It involves a whole host of other issues that have to be addressed."

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said NHL general managers were polled two years ago and two-thirds wanted to keep the playoffs the way they are.

From 1993 to 2013, the NHL had three divisions in each conference. The three division winners qualified for the playoffs as the top three seeds. The next five spots went to the teams with the best records, regardless of division. The matchups were determined by the No. 1-No.8 seeding.

"From a coaching perspective, you'd always love [No. 1 vs. No. 16],” Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “From a competitive point of view standing behind that bench, you feel like you've earned the right to play the 16th-place team if you're the first-place team.”

⭐️ Matthew Tkachuk wins MVP in 'extra special' All-Star Game. The 25-year-old forward collected four goals and three assists in the Atlantic Division's two All-Star tournament victories while playing alongside his younger brother, Brady Tkachuk.

💰 Bo Horvat agrees to 8-year extension with the New York Islanders. On his first day of practice as a New York Islander, the 27-year-old center signed an 8-year extension carrying an $8.5 million average annual value against the salary cap. Islanders GM, Lou Lamoriello has already commented the extension is "too long and it's too much money." In his final season of a 6-year deal worth $5.5 million per season, Horvat was scheduled to become a UFA this summer. His 31 goals tie him with Mark Scheifele for the 8th most in the NHL this season.

No surprise, Wayne Gretzky (25 points in 18 All-Star games) and Mario Lemieux (23 points in 10 All-Star games) sit 1st and 2nd all-time in NHL All-Star game scoring. Who is the 3rd all-time highest scorer in NHL All-Star games?

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With 22 points across 18 NHL All-Star games, Joe Sakic is the 3rd highest scoring NHL All-Star of all time.