Board of Governors confirm the return of the 23-team playoff format
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The AHL's 23-team playoff format has garnered plenty of criticism over the past few years, but now it has been confirmed to stay, for 2024/25 at least.
If you thought the Stanley Cup Playoffs were long, they've got nothing on the Calder Cup Playoffs, as, for the third straight year, the 2023/24 campaign saw 23 teams enter the playoff race, only for the Hershey Bears to come out on top. Now, it has been confirmed that this playoff format will be here to stay, for the upcoming year anyway.
"I hope you like the American Hockey League's expanded 23-team playoff format..
The AHL's Board of Governors has approved the format for one more year, sources tell InsideAHLHockey.com, meaning that the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs will remain unchanged from the previous format from the previous three playoffs.
The decision to extend the playoff format for only one year came to fruition as a way to revisit the topic next summer when the current AHL CBA expires." Androckitis said.
The AHL's Board of Governors has approved the format for one more year, sources tell InsideAHLHockey.com, meaning that the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs will remain unchanged from the previous format from the previous three playoffs.
The decision to extend the playoff format for only one year came to fruition as a way to revisit the topic next summer when the current AHL CBA expires." Androckitis said.
That report comes from Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLhockey.com, who has confirmed that after three years of this expanded format, we will be seeing it one more time at least before the AHL CBA will be re-negotiated.
"This will be the fourth postseason the AHL has used this expanded playoff field, as it began with the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs as a way for teams - coming out of the COVID shutdowns - to generate some extra revenue." Androckitis said.
The first round of the AHL playoffs began way back in April, extending almost two months of action, and while this format has been criticized for over two-thirds of the league making the playoffs, clearly something is working for the AHL.
With so many future stars, the game only continues to grow in popularity, so expect to see much of the same in 2024/25 for the AHL as they look to continue their growth and success.
Source: Blade of Steel
Board of Governors approves 23-team playoff format in 2025
Board of Governors approves 23-team playoff format in 2025
| POLL | ||
11 JUILLET | 73 ANSWERS Board of Governors confirm the return of the 23-team playoff format Is this the right move for the AHL to make? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 54.8 % |
| No | 33 | 45.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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