We don't know when (or even if) the NHL will be able to resume its 2019-20 season. But when it comes to potential formats for the remainder of the season's schedule, the NHL is prioritizing being able to finish the regular season in some form before the postseason begins.
On Thursday's episode of TSN's Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun said that several sources on Monday's Board of Governors call told him that Gary Bettman reiterated "the league's preference and its priority to try to have some regular season games before a playoff."
That doesn't necessarily mean that the league is looking to finish the full 82-game regular season schedule, just a number of games that would bring each team to an even number. The number of games played by different teams currently ranges from 68 games to 71 games.
"There are a lot of reasons for this," Lebrun said of the NHL prioritizing regular season games. "A lot of the players on their own media calls have suggested that they'd rather have some games before the playoffs, fear of injury and everything else after four months off. But also for the league. The fact that you play some regular season games that you can fairly and more normally decide who the 16 teams are that make the playoffs."
Playing more regular season games would also make the situation more fair for players chasing milestones for performance bonuses, as well as milestones that affect conditional trade pieces. One example of this is the conditional third-round pick the Oilers sent to the Flames in last summer's James Neal trade. One condition that must be met for the Flames to receive the pick is that Neal must score 21 goals, a mark he is two goals shy of reaching.
Lebrun added that he's also been told of talks of exhibition (preseason-like) games "as opposed to just regular season games" in a potential new schedule.
A postseason schedule would most likely be reduced, with series being best-of-three or best-of-five, rather than the usual best-of-seven.
Darren Dreger said that in a poll in which 24 NHL general managers participated, 20 support a best-of-five series format for the first three rounds, but still prefer to have a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.
Dreger added that other general managers still prefer seven-game series for all four rounds of the playoffs. One general manager suggested a best-of-three first round, best-of-five second round, then best-of-seven conference finals and Cup Final. Another general manager suggested a single-elimination format for the first three rounds, followed by a best-of-three Stanley Cup Final.
