NHL to Officially Announce Details Regarding Playoff Format and Draft Lottery
After releasing a document detailing Phase 2 of their ‘Return to Play’ plan yesterday, the NHL is set to announce more details on the conclusion of the 2019-20 season today. Headlining that announcement is the official 24-team format to complete the season and 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
From the NHL: ``National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman will make an announcement today at 4:30 p.m. ET regarding the Return to Play Plan for the 2019-20 NHL season.''
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 26, 2020
So this is to announce the 24-team format agreement the NHL/NHLPA have signed off on.
Along with the completion of the 2019-20 season, the details of the draft lottery will also be presented.
It is expected the details of the NHL draft and draft lottery timing/format will be part of today’s big reveal by the NHL on RTP format(s).
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 26, 2020
Included in the draft lottery will be the seven teams who are not involved in the 24-team playoff tournament, along with the eight teams eliminated in the ‘qualifying rounds.’
Since the initial phase of the lottery will take place before the 24-team tournament kicks off, the eight eliminated teams that will be featured will be represented by unassigned picks. The odds for the seven teams not in the tournament will be based on their point percentage for the 2019-20 season. If one of the eight unassigned picks ends up in top three, a second lottery draw will take place to determine which of the eliminated teams will pick there; their odds will be based on the inverse order of their regular season point percentage.
