An NHL Play-In Round Would Guarantee More Meaningful Games Than The Current Playoff Format - Community Post

Vancouver Canucks

Adam Kierszenblat

Jun 7, 2025

An NHL Play-In Round Would Guarantee More Meaningful Games Than The Current Playoff Format

In comments he made before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night in Edmonton, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed the concept of a play-in round of the post-season.

thehockeynews.comAn NHL Play-In Round Would Guarantee More Meaningful Games Than The Current Playoff FormatIn comments he made before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night in Edmonton, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed the concept of a play-in round of the post-season. 

If the NHL had a play-in round, the Vancouver Canucks could have made the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.