What if the NHL already realigned? This week's would-be standings

By VINCENT WITEL

Special to NJDevsBlog.com

Vincent Witel

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 March 3, 2013.

       Eastern Conference

1. Montreal 32- Northeast
2. Pittsburgh 30- Atlantic
3. Carolina 25- Southeast
4. Boston 30
5. Ottawa 28
6. Toronto 26
7. New Jersey 25
8. Philadelphia 23
9. New York Rangers 22
10. Winnipeg 21
11. New York Islanders 20
12. Buffalo 20
13. Tampa Bay 19
14. Washington 17
15. Florida 17

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 41- Central
2. Anaheim 32- Pacific
3. Vancouver 26- Northwest
4. San Jose 24
5. St. Louis 24
6. Minnesota 24
7. Dallas 24
8. Detroit 24
9. Phoenix 23
10. Nashville 23
11. Los Angeles 22
12. Calgary 20
13. Colorado 20
14. Edmonton 20
15. Columbus 16

Now let’s see how the standings would look under the new realignment proposal. 

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Pittsburgh 28*

2. New Jersey 25*

3. Carolina 25*

4. Philadelphia 23

5. New York Rangers 22

6. New York Islanders 20

7. Washington 17

8. Columbus 16

Central Division

1. Montreal 32*

2. Boston 30*

3. Ottawa 28*

4. Toronto 26 WC

5. Detroit 24 WC

6. Buffalo 20

7. Tampa Bay 19

8. Florida 17

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, and the wild-cards getting the 7-8 seeds.

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

Western Conference

Pacific Division

1. Anaheim 32*

2. Vancouver 26*

3. San Jose 24*

4. Phoenix 23 WC

5. Los Angeles 22

6. Calgary 20

7. Edmonton 20

Midwest Division

1. Chicago 41*

2. St. Louis 24*

3. Dallas 24*

4. Minnesota 24 WC

5. Nashville 23 

6. Winnipeg 21

7. Colorado 20

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, and the wild-cards getting the 7-8 seeds.

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