NHL Rumors: Cale Makar Wants NHL To Change Playoff Format

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 , , , , ,
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar reacts during 2025 game.

Cale Makar didn’t tiptoe around it.

Asked about the Stanley Cup Playoff format, the Colorado Avalanche star said what a lot of players and fans already feel: it should go back to conference seeding 1 through 8. He told ESPN the current bracket can force elite clubs to collide right away, noting how some years you land a favorable matchup and other years you run straight into another top-six team in Round 1. 

That rang true for his own team after a seven-gamer with the Dallas Stars last spring, and it echoes the fatigue in markets like Edmonton and Los Angeles that have seen the same first-round pairing over and over.

Why 1-to-8 has so much support

The appeal is simple. Seed each conference by points, reward regular-season excellence with cleaner paths, and cut down on repetitive division grudge matches in the opening round. 

Fans dream about seeing heavyweight series a round or two later rather than immediately. For the Avalanche, a 1-to-8 bracket last year would likely have meant a different first opponent than Dallas. 

For the Oilers and Kings, it could finally break their annual Round 1 loop. Even in the East, clubs like the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs might avoid drawing each other right out of the gate.

The pushback Makar is up against

There’s a counterpoint that won’t go away. 

The league likes divisional rivalries and the travel savings that come with them, especially in the West. Analysts have also shown that swapping to 1-to-8 often changes opponents more than outcomes, with the same top four still holding home ice and only the middle seeds shuffling. 

Commissioner Gary Bettman has said repeatedly there are no immediate plans to change the format. And with the schedule expanding to 84 games and expansion talk simmering, any overhaul would need to sync with future realignment and travel math.

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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