I suggested as a possible rule change for this season that the team with the best record in the regular season be able to pick its opponent in the semifinal round of the head-to-head playoffs.
Regardless of the outcome of the vote, at least two leagues use this format according to an article published a few weeks back on
www.espn.com -- Southern Professional Hockey League in USA and a league in Austria. The focus of the ESPN was floating the idea of the NHL adopting this format.
I was not aware that the two leagues used the format. Just seemed like a good idea to me. Regular-season first-place owner in FHL would have the opportunity to take a look at the week ahead for each of the three potential playoff opponents and select the one he thought would be the weakest.
The downside is that if first-place owner picked his semifinal opponent and then LOST, he would NEVER hear the end of it.
I have attached link to the ESPN article.
Pointing out that my idea for the FHL submitted before ESPN reported on the idea as a possibility for the NHL.
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21051826/nhl-why-nhl-adopt-new-stanley-cup-playoffs-format