As the NHL ponders the possibility of expanding to a 32nd team, one wonders if it is not time to in turn ponder the expansion of the playoff field, too.



It is uncanny over the past few weeks how many different team executives and coaches have pointed out that question to me, unsolicited I might add, as the current playoff races rage on in the final months of the regular season.



As one team executive explained — and by the way, his club is comfortably in a playoff spot — it makes more sense than ever to increase the pool of teams who get in.



“More playoff teams [equals] more fan bases with the pleasure of experiencing the playoffs [which equals] more revenue for owners/players to share [which equals] more meaningful games for national rights holders [which equals] more GM/head coaches who can say they made the playoffs and hopefully keep their jobs [less turnover],” he said in a text message this week.



Well, yeah. To all...