NHL discussing 24-team playoff based on conference

The NHL is discussing a plan with NHL Players' Association that would resume the season with a 24-team, conference-based playoff.

At this point, the plan has not been approved but the NHLPA committee is meeting today to discuss the plan. If it goes through, the top-4 seeds in both conferences, which would be determined by their points percentage in the standings, would receive byes while seeds 5 through 12 would compete in best-of-five play-in series. After the first round, the playoffs would essentially function as normal, with the 16 remaining teams playing best-of-seven series.

While the top-4 seeds in each conference are expected to get byes, SportsNet reports that they might "participate in a three-game tournament to get some action." Will that have any effect on the actual playoffs? It's not clear. The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals would be the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars.

But even if this playoff format is approved, where will it be played and when will it begin? According to sources, the league had previously considered using up to four locations but is now planning to use just two 'hub' cities where games will be played, and around nine locations are currently being considered. Games will not be played in front of fans.

As for when the shortened season may start, even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledges there's not a clear timeline.

“I don’t think anybody has a fixed timetable, particularly in North America right now,” Bettman told NHL.com. “We have been working very hard since we took the pause on March 12 to make sure that whatever the timing is, whatever the sequencing is, whatever physical ability we have in terms of locations to play, that we’re in a position to execute any or all of those options. There is still a great deal of uncertainty.”