Blue Jackets GM wants playoffs to be expanded beyond 16 teams

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen thinks it's only fair that the NHL broaden its playoff bracket if the league jumps right into the postseason upon its pending return.

"If you go directly into the playoffs, I think it has to be expanded from 16 teams," Kekalainen said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "Otherwise, you'd have to cut it right off, and how do you cut it off when teams had different schedules, different strength of schedules, more home games or less homes games? ... All these differences, where you've arrived at a certain amount of points in a different amount of games."

With the season on pause, the Blue Jackets occupy the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference based on total points. However, the club has played two more games than the New York Islanders and would fail to qualify if the league awarded playoff positions based on points percentage.

Kekalainen is well aware of his team's situation and has made his proposition known to the league office.

"I'm lobbying for getting into the playoffs," Kekalainen said. "Obviously, we want to be a part of it. When the play paused, by points percentage, we were not in (the playoffs), but by points, we were in. What's the fair way to do it, if you continue to go right into the playoffs?

"It's hard to say. Points percentage is one thing, but you still have to earn those points, and we already did. We're above the line."

The Blue Jackets, who've made the playoffs in each of the last three campaigns, have been one of the most surprising stories this season after watching several core players walk in free agency last summer.