Executive Director of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RHF) Dmitry Kurbatov spoke of a possible option to introduce a crossover playoff in the KHL and noted that this would lead to increased competition in the league.
Previously, the KHL dropped the initiative to introduce a crossover playoff in the 2022/23 season.
– We (KHL chief Alexei) Morozov and his deputies discussed this topic quite closely this summer. We came to a decision that was supported by us and the league. Technically, time has passed. We said to ourselves that this year we will play as we have played, and then we will discuss.
The main argument against is that it will fly longer. A compromise option: the first round remains the same – in the 1/8 final the teams play inside the conferences, and in the second stage we cross them. “West-1” – “East-4” and so on. We breed “Vostok-1” and “2”, “West-1” and “2” in different groups. The winners of the Western and Eastern conferences can theoretically meet only in the finals, second places – only in the semifinals. We think it’s good, it gives “spice” to sports competitions.
I have a justification that there is a “pepper”, an exacerbation of sports competition.
The best teams from the West and East compete. Transportation costs for the West have always been lower. Maybe in the second stage they will grow a little, but in the East they will remain about the same. The economic factor always counts. If you create a proposal, you have to look at it from different angles, you have to have intelligible arguments,” Kurbatov said, answering questions from a correspondent.
Source : MatchTV
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