NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — In what can best be described as making the best of a bad situation, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the plan for a 24-team playoff format if the league resumes play this season.
The commissioner also announced that the 2019-20 regular season has ended.
The good news for Nashville Predators fans is under the new format, the Preds would be comfortably in as the six seed in the Western Conference.
Prior to the regular season being suspended in March due to COVID-19, Nashville was the midst of battle for a wild-card spot.
Nashville's first round opponent will be the Arizona Coyotes. The winner of that series would then advance to conference semi-finals to take on one of the top four seeds (St. Louis, Colorado, Las Vegas or Dallas).
Commissioner Bettman revealed the 10 cities in the running to host the revised playoff format.
Nashville had made a case to the league to be one of the two hub locations, but didn't make the final cut.
A date for the start of the playoffs is still being discussed. The earliest date teams can begin training camp is July 1.
