How Many Teams Will Make the NHL Playoffs in 2022?
How Many Teams Will Make the NHL Playoffs in 2022? – Find out which teams are predicted to make the playoffs this year and how many spots are up for grabs.
Introduction
In 2022, the NHL will most likely have 31 teams. With an odd number of teams, one team will have to sit out each night. The question then becomes, how many of those teams will make the playoffs?
In a typical NHL season, 16 teams make the playoffs. However, with the addition of the Seattle Kraken in 2021-22, the league will have an odd number of teams and someone will have to miss out each night. The most likely scenario is that 16 of the 31 teams will make the playoffs, with the top four seeds getting a bye into the second round.
That said, it’s also possible that the NHL could choose to change the playoff format for 2022. In that case, it’s tough to say how many teams would make it in. The league could choose to go with a play-in system like they did in 2020, or they could elect to have all 31 teams make the postseason.
At this point, it’s all speculation. We’ll just have to wait and see what the league decides to do for 2022.
Current NHL Teams
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently composed of 31 teams: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.
In 1922, the NHL became the first major professional hockey league to eliminate all of its Canadian teams. At that time, there were only four NHL teams–the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Maroons, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto St. Patricks (now the Maple Leafs). The decision was made in order to focus on building up American interest in the sport.
The NHL added six new teams in 1967 as part of its first expansion: The Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and the California Seals (now the Oakland Sharks).
In 1970-71, another two teams were admitted to bring to total number of teams to 12: The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks.
Between 1974 and 1979, four more teams entered the league through expansion or by relocating from other markets: The Washington Capitals (formerly the Baltimore Blades), Kansas City Scouts (formerly the Oakland Seals), Colorado Rockies (formerly the Quebec Nordiques), and Edmonton Oilers.
The Hartford Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes) joined as an expansion team in 1979-80 season while Contel Communications purchased majority interest of three WHA franchises – New England Whalers (Hartford), Birmingham Bulls, and Cincinnati Stingers – which subsequently joined NHL as part of their deal with WHA. Therefore increasing NHL’s size to 18 teams by 1979-80 season.
Between 1980s and 1990s there were no significant changes leading into 21st century. In 1992-93 season Tampa Bay Lightning join as an expansion team while Ottawa Senators began play next season as a result of relocation from Denver where they were formerly known as Colorado Rockies. In 1993-94 Winnipeg Jets also join NHL via relocation from Minneapolis where they used to be known as Minnesota North Stars; while San Jose Sharks began play as an expansion team that same season..’
NHL Expansion
In order for the NHL to have an 0-82 record season in which every team makes the playoffs, the league will have to expand by at least two teams. And if you’re looking for an expansion team to get behind, the Seattle Kraken seem like they’ll be pretty good.
The Kraken are set to enter the league in the 2021-22 season and will be a part of the Pacific Division. As it stands right now, there are only seven teams in the Pacific Division, so unless there’s a realignment (which isn’t out of the question), Seattle will need to be joined by at least one other team in order for every squad to make the playoffs.
NHL Realignment
In 2022, the NHL will have a different playoff format due to realignment. There will be four conferences, each with seven teams. The top four teams in each conference will make the playoffs.
This means that 28 out of the 32 NHL teams will make the playoffs in 2022. This is a huge increase from the current playoff format, which only has 16 teams qualify for the postseason.
The change in format is due to the fact that the Seattle Kraken expansion team will be joining the league in 2021-22. With 32 teams in the league, it made sense to realign into four conferences instead of two.
Conclusion
NHL teams that could make a run at the playoffs in 2022 include the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers from the East Division and the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues from the West Division.
