NHLPA expected to pass 24-team playoff format, reports say

The NHLPA is expected to pass a 24-team playoff format, reports from OilersNation’s Jason Gregor and TSN’s Bob McKenzie say.

An NHLPA vote kicked off Thursday and carried into Friday and Gregor reported that some teams aren’t fans of the format. On top of that, McKenzie said an NHLPA conference call Thursday “got a little heated at times.” 18 of 31 votes are needed for it to pass.

The process is required to go through more rigours by the NHL, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported. With that being said, an official announcement is expected in the coming days.

The Vancouver Canucks don’t currently have a rep, however, Bo Horvat is listed as an alternate representative.

Under the format, the top four teams in each conference would play each other with the other 16 clubs going through a best-of-five play-in round. The league is working through the process of selecting hub cities to play games out of in a central manner.

Vancouver would square up against the Minnesota Wild in the first round with the winner to play the Colorado Avalanche.

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