Playoff Options with Modified NHL Setup

tyazn · 05-13-2024, 06:57 PM

Not sure if this is a bug or I don't understand how the playoff systems work. I've re-arranged the NHL from the standard setup into 2 conferences, 4 divisions per conference, and 4 teams per division. The playoff system I chose was 1999 NHL, hoping to get the 4 division winners and then the next 4 teams by points. However, as I'm simming along, the Conference standings show that the top 2 teams per division will make the playoffs. (Have not made it to the playoffs yet, so maybe I'm just impatient.)

And if this is working as intended, is there a playoff option that gets me what I'm looking for?

Thanks in advance!

JeffR · 05-15-2024, 02:07 AM

Remember, that playoff system was designed for a 6-division, 2-conference setup, not 8/2. Since there's never been an NHL alignment with 8 divisions, it's best not to use the pre-set options and instead set up a custom system to get what you want. In this case, it's relatively simple to do: choose Custom as the playoff type, then check the Conferences Separate and Division Leader Seeded boxes, and set Start Round to the 16-team option. That'll give you the division leaders plus four more teams per conference, for a total of 16.

tyazn · 05-15-2024, 05:25 AM

Thanks for the reply! I didn't do a custom game - I started from the standard game on July 1. Will this option be available if I sim to July 1, 2025 or are custom playoffs only allowed in custom games?

05-13-2024, 06:57 PM	#1
tyazn Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 6	Playoff Options with Modified NHL Setup Not sure if this is a bug or I don't understand how the playoff systems work. I've re-arranged the NHL from the standard setup into 2 conferences, 4 divisions per conference, and 4 teams per division. The playoff system I chose was 1999 NHL, hoping to get the 4 division winners and then the next 4 teams by points. However, as I'm simming along, the Conference standings show that the top 2 teams per division will make the playoffs. (Have not made it to the playoffs yet, so maybe I'm just impatient.) And if this is working as intended, is there a playoff option that gets me what I'm looking for? Thanks in advance!

05-15-2024, 02:07 AM	#2
JeffR FHM Producer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 17,242	Remember, that playoff system was designed for a 6-division, 2-conference setup, not 8/2. Since there's never been an NHL alignment with 8 divisions, it's best not to use the pre-set options and instead set up a custom system to get what you want. In this case, it's relatively simple to do: choose Custom as the playoff type, then check the Conferences Separate and Division Leader Seeded boxes, and set Start Round to the 16-team option. That'll give you the division leaders plus four more teams per conference, for a total of 16.

05-15-2024, 05:25 AM	#3
tyazn Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 6	Thanks for the reply! I didn't do a custom game - I started from the standard game on July 1. Will this option be available if I sim to July 1, 2025 or are custom playoffs only allowed in custom games?