The Carolina Hurricanes were one of two clubs to vote against the proposed 24-team playoff format on Friday due to the possible handicap it puts on the team.
"For where we were and where our team thought we could get to, it hurts our odds," Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook said, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
"It's not like we don't want to play," he added.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were the other team to vote no, citing similar reasons.
At the time of the 2019-20 season's pause on March 12, the Hurricanes sat in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 38-25-5 record.
Martinook added that the format may give fringe teams an advantage, according to The Athletic's Sara Civian.
Under the proposed format, 16 teams will need to take part in a best-of-five play-in series in order to secure a spot in the playoffs. Only the top four teams in each conference are guaranteed a berth.
The Hurricanes would be set to take on the New York Rangers in their play-in series if the format is ultimately approved. After voting in favor to authorize further negotiations on the format on Friday, a formal announcement of approval is expected in the coming days.
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