The NHL has always sold itself on parity - the idea that on any given night, any team can beat any other. But as we hit the All-Star break and take stock of the standings, it’s hard to ignore how the current system - especially the infamous “loser point” - is muddying the playoff picture more than ever.
Let’s look at two teams that illustrate the issue perfectly: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights. Both squads have 27 wins through 57 games.
Identical win totals. But only one of them is sitting comfortably in a playoff spot.
The other is six points out.
So what’s the difference? Overtime losses.
Vegas has racked up 14 of them - five more than Toronto - and each one of those earns them a valuable point in the standings. That’s the “loser point” in action.
You lose in OT or a shootout, and you still walk away with something. It’s been part of the league since 2001, but this season, it’s shining a harsh light on just how skewed things can get.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t about saying the Leafs deserve a playoff spot. They haven’t played well enough, and their record reflects that.
But it’s hard to ignore that Vegas, with the same number of wins and a weaker division, is not just in the playoff picture - they’re leading their divisional bracket. Meanwhile, Toronto is stuck on the outside looking in.
Here’s where it gets even trickier. Vegas’ 27 wins aren’t exactly elite - they’re tied for 20th in the league.
That’s middle of the pack. But thanks to the loser point and the divisional format, they’re poised to host a first-round playoff series.
It’s a system that rewards surviving overtime more than winning in regulation, and it’s creating a playoff race where the standings don’t always reflect who’s actually winning the most games.
And that’s a problem.
The NHL is the only one of the four major North American sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) that not only sticks with a divisional playoff format, but also awards different point values depending on how a game ends. Regulation losses?
Nothing. Overtime or shootout losses?
Here’s a point. It’s a system that can make the standings look artificially close, but in practice, it makes it harder for teams to gain ground.
Especially when three-point games - where both teams get at least a point - keep popping up across the league.
It’s no wonder that late third periods in tied games have become more conservative. Teams aren’t pushing for the win - they’re playing not to lose in regulation, just to lock in that single point. Overtime, in some ways, has become a strategy, not just a consequence.
Interestingly, the league has already experimented with a different format during international play. In the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL used the international model: three points for a regulation win, two for an OT or shootout win, and one for an OT loss. That system puts a premium on winning in 60 minutes - and many players have voiced their support for it.
Wouldn’t that make for a better product? More urgency, more risk-taking, more action in the third period? Instead, we’re stuck with a format that rewards teams for dragging games into overtime and punishes those in tougher divisions.
And speaking of divisions - the playoff seeding system isn’t helping either. The NHL still uses a divisional format that can lead to two of the league’s best teams squaring off in the first round, while weaker teams cruise through easier paths.
Fans and players alike have been calling for a return to the old 1-through-8 conference seeding. It’s cleaner, fairer, and better reflects a team’s full-season performance.
But don’t expect a change anytime soon. When asked whether the league would consider revisiting the playoff format in future CBA talks, Commissioner Gary Bettman gave a firm “no.” He likes things just the way they are.
That might hold - until the system truly backfires.
If a team finishes top 10 in wins and still misses the playoffs this year, the pressure to fix the format could finally hit a tipping point. The NHL hasn’t been embarrassed into change yet. But the way this season is trending, that moment might be coming.