what you can do is that we had for the SMJHL ... the last teams of each conference fight for more BALLS for the Lottery Draft. so they have a less offseason. (7 games series)
with that you could also do a new format of playoffs!

- 1st and 2nd of each conference (division winners) are seeded for next round.
- place 3 must go against place 6 & place 4 against place 5
- maybe in just 5 games series for this between series!

then the baddest place team from reg season of their conference must go against the 1st (conference winner) and the other winner against the 2nd of the conference.

so you have less members they must wait until next season and you has also more playoff action & a battle of the BALLS.

of course the losers of this between series will be in the lottery draft and there you can also let run a battle of the BALLS series which team will have more BALLS.