Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series , there will always be 22 teams in this list - 14 teams that do not make the post-season plus the 8 losers of the first round playoffs . Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series ( 16 teams ) , there will always be 22 teams in this list - the 14 teams that do not make the post-season plus the 8 teams that lost their first round playoffs .