Carolina Hurricanes One of Two Teams to Vote No on 24 Team Playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes were one of 2 teams that voted no on 24 Team Plans.

The Carolina Hurricanes were one of only two teams that voted against the grain when the 24 team format of the playoffs was presented to the NHLPA.

It’s not hard to see why. With the new format the Carolina Hurricanes are forced to play against the New York Rangers, a team by all rights, shouldn’t even have a ticket to the show, let alone go against a rising team in the Canes. This is the team that had to give a written apology to their fans just a year ago.

To make matters worse, the Rangers are coming with a renewed energy, with their seasons saved by a literal act of God. Let’s face it, the New York Rangers were on the downhill when the season came to a screeching halt. Even Moneypuck.com had them at only a 24.4% chance of making the playoffs. Carolina? 79.3% chance.

Why would we agree to a plan that had us going through a team we haven’t beaten in the regular season in order to attain what we already earned? We weren’t the only vocal detractors from the plan either. Tampa Bay, which was the second seed and would go on to play the Islanders or the Panthers, if they can keep that second seeding also voted no:

But this article isn’t just complaining about the playoff format which remarkably allows all but one Original Six team into the playoffs when only two actually earned themselves a ticket (I will let yall ponder that on your own time).

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See the actual reasoning behind why the Carolina Hurricanes would vote no on the plan isn’t because they don’t think they will get far into the playoffs, being forced to face the New York Rangers. No, if fact, it is probably because they think they might actually get far enough into the postseason that it becomes an issue for those with families.

Especially those with young families and babies, like the NHLPA Board Representative for the Hurricanes; Jordan Martinook who has a child under two years of age.

Others on the team like Jaccob Slavin and Jake Gardiner also have young ones in the family that they might not want to be away from for weeks or perhaps months at a time considering that the playoffs for the Hurricanes are now five series deep before you can lift the Cup.

Don’t get me wrong, having to face-off against an illegitimate playoff contender before the first round actually commences was enough nonsense on its own to vote this option down. I can’t imagine why teams like the Maple Leafs, Penguins, Stars, or Flames would vote for it. They are in an automatic playoff spot and now have to defend it? Against a team that shouldn’t be here?

With over 60 games played, just go by point percentage, its not a hard concept to concede the fact that you have to roll with what you have and if you didn’t make the cut, tough luck, do better next season, late-season heroics shouldn’t be the deciding factor.

I say that fully aware that the Hurricanes clinched a playoff spot late in the season last year, but they were dipping in and out of a spot all season and could have been in a spot at any point had this happened last year.

But the vote has been made and the Carolina Hurricanes will likely be forced to pack their bags for Vegas or a Canadian city, away from their families to face a team should be focusing on its golf game not playoff training.

Question for CC Readers: Do you agree with Martinook’s vote of NO on the 24 team playoff format?