Islanders head coach Barry Trotz looks on during summer training camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center on July 24. Credit: Jim McIsaac
This season’s NHL postseason format, which included 24 teams, was a product of necessity after the COVID-19 pandemic kept the league from completing its regular season.
But Islanders coach Barry Trotz would be in favor of the NHL expanding its playoffs permanently from the current 16 teams to 24.
“I think the league is so tight and the league has grown over my time in the league with the number of teams, it should be a heavy consideration,” Trotz said on Thursday with his team holding a 2-1 series lead over the Panthers in their best-of-five qualifier heading into Friday’s Game 4 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.