What if the NHL already realigned?

By VINCENT WITEL
Special to NJDevsBlog.com

Here are the Current NHL Standings under the current alignment. Just going by 1-15 and not by division. Division winners are automatically seeded 1,2,3. Top 8 teams qualify for the playoffs. These are the standings after games played on Feb. 26, 2013.

       Eastern Conference

1. Montreal 27- Northeast
2. Pittsburgh 26- Atlantic
3. Carolina 19- Southeast
4. Boston 26
5. Ottawa 26
6. New Jersey 24
7. Toronto 24
8. Tampa Bay 19
9. Winnipeg 19
10. Philadelphia 19
11. New York Rangers 18
12. New York Islanders 17
13. Florida 16
14. Washington 15
15. Buffalo 15

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 35- Central
2. Anaheim 27- Pacific
3. Vancouver 24- Northwest
4. Nashville 23
5. St. Louis 22
6. Dallas 22
7. San Jose 21
8. Detroit 21
9. Phoenix 21
10. Los Angeles 20
11. Minnesota 20
12. Calgary 18
13. Edmonton 18
14. Colorado 17
15. Columbus 13

Now, let’s see how the standings would look under the new realignment proposal. If approved, there will still be Eastern and Western Conferences. Instead of three divisions there will be two divisions in each conference. Winnipeg will move to the Western Conference and Detroit and Columbus will move to the Eastern Conference, meaning frequent trips to the West Coast for both teams during the season and for Detroit, more matchups against most of the Original Six opponents.  

Divisions in the Eastern Conference are Atlantic and Central. Western Conference Divisions will be Pacific and Midwest Atlantic Division Teams will be: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington. Central Division Teams will be: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto. Pacific Division Teams: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver. Central Division: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg. 

With possible talks in future of 2 expansion teams to make it 32 teams and even number of teams in each division. Under this proposal for the playoff format. Top 3 teams from each division will clinch playoff berths along with 2 wildcards from each conference. Meaning it’s possible to have 5 teams from one division while 3 teams from another. Here is show the standings would look going by this season’s current standings. 

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Pittsburgh 26*

2. New Jersey 24*

3. Carolina 19*

4. Philadelphia 19

5. New York Rangers 18

6. New York Islanders 17

7. Washington 15

8. Columbus 13

Central Division

1. Montreal 27*

2. Boston 26*

3. Ottawa 26*

4. Toronto 24 WC

5. Detroit 21 WC

6. Tampa Bay 19

7. Florida 16

8. Buffalo 15

If I assume they are still doing 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc here is how the playoff would look like with the division leaders getting the #1 and #2 seeds

1. Montreal vs (8) Carolina
2. Pittsburgh vs (7) Detroit
3. Boston vs (6) Toronto
4. Ottawa vs (5) New Jersey

Western Conference

Pacific Division

1. Anaheim 27*

2. Vancouver 24*

3. San Jose 21*

4. Phoenix 21 WC

5. Los Angeles 20

6. Calgary 18

7. Edmonton 18

Midwest Division

1. Chicago 33*

2. Nashville 23*

3. St. Louis 22*

4. Dallas 22 WC

5. Minnesota 20 

6. Winnipeg 19

7. Colorado 17

If I assume the NHL sticks with the 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7 format. Here is how the playoffs would look like. Division winners automatically awarded #1 and #2 seeds

1. Chicago vs (8) Phoenix
2. Anaheim vs (7) San Jose
3. Vancouver vs (6) Dallas
4. Nashville vs (5) St. Louis

Editor's note: Even though the top 3 teams in each division make the playoffs in the new format, with two wild cards — it is possible the two wild cards could come from the same division. There are yet rumblings of divisional-style playoff seedings — 1v4, 2v3. This makes little sense as it's possible, therefore, for a first-round matchup between teams in different divisions.