What if the NHL already realigned? What the playoff picture would look like today

By Vincent Witel • NJDevsBlog.com

Here are the 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 April 21, 2013.

       Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh 68- Atlantic Z
2. Boston 59- Northeast X
3. Washington 52- Southeast
4. Montreal 59 X
5. Toronto 55 X
6. New York Islanders 53 
7. Ottawa  52
8. New York Rangers 52
9. Winnipeg 49
10. New Jersey 44 E
11. Buffalo 44 E
12. Philadelphia 43 E
13. Tampa Bay 38 E
14. Carolina 37 E
15. Florida 32 E

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 73- Central Z
2. Anaheim 62- Pacific  X
3. Vancouver 57- Northwest X
4. Los Angeles 57 X
5. San Jose 55
6. St. Louis 54
7. Minnesota 51
8. Columbus 51
9. Detroit 48
10. Dallas 48
11. Phoenix 46
12. Calgary 42 E
13. Edmonton 41 E
14. Nashville 39 E 
15. Colorado 37 E

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

Eastern Conference

Division D

1. Pittsburgh 68 Z

2. New York Islanders 53*

3. Washington 52*

4. New York Rangers 52 WC 

5. Columbus 51

6. New Jersey 44 E

7. Philadelphia 43 E

8. Carolina 37 E

Division C

1. Boston 59 X

2. Montreal 59 X

3. Toronto 55*

4. Ottawa 52 WC

5. Detroit 48  

6. Buffalo 44 E

7. Tampa Bay 38 E

8. Florida 32 E

Here is how the playoffs would look like in the Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh vs New York Rangers

Montreal vs Toronto

Boston vs Ottawa

New York Islanders vs Washington

Western Conference

Division A

1. Anaheim 62 X

2. Los Angeles 57 X

3. Vancouver 57*

4. San Jose 55 WC

5. Phoenix 46 

6. Calgary 42 E

7. Edmonton 41 E

Division B

1. Chicago 73 Z

2. St. Louis 54*

3. Minnesota 51*

4. Winnipeg 49 WC  

5. Dallas 48 

6. Nashville 39 E

7. Colorado 37 E

Here is how the playoffs would look like

Chicago vs Winnipeg

Anaheim vs San Jose

Los Angeles vs Vancouver

St. Louis vs Minnesota

X-Clinched Playoff Berth Y- Clinched Division Z- Clinched Home Ice P- President’s Trophy WC- Wildcard E-Eliminated

What if the NHL already realigned? As of April 7

By Vincent Witel ♦ NJDevsBlog.com contributing writer

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 April 7.

       Eastern Conference

Vinnie Witel

1. Pittsburgh 58- Atlantic X
2. Montreal 55- Northeast
3. Washington 42- Southeast
4. Boston 52
5. Ottawa 46
6. Toronto 44
7. New York Rangers  42
8. New York Islanders 42
9. New Jersey 40
10. Winnipeg 40
11. Buffalo 38
12. Philadelphia 37
13. Carolina 34
14. Tampa Bay 34
15. Florida 32

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 62- Central X
2. Anaheim 57- Pacific
3. Vancouver 48- Northwest
4. Los Angeles 48
5. San Jose 47
6. Minnesota 46
7. St. Louis 44
8. Detroit 43
9. Phoenix 40
10. Dallas 39
11. Edmonton 39
12. Columbus 39
13. Nashville 38
14. Calgary 30
15. Colorado 29

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

Eastern Conference

Division D

1. Pittsburgh 58*X

2. New York Rangers 42*

3. Washington 42*

4. New York Islanders 42

5. New Jersey 40

6. Columbus 39

7. Philadelphia 37

8. Carolina 34

Division C

1. Montreal 55*

2. Boston 52*

3. Toronto 46*

4. Ottawa 44 WC

5. Detroit 43 WC

6. Buffalo 38

7. Tampa Bay 34

8. Florida 32

Here is how the playoffs would look like in the Eastern Conference.

Pittsburgh vs Detroit

Montreal vs Ottawa

Boston vs Toronto

New York Rangers vs Washington

Western Conference

Division A

1. Anaheim 57*

2. Vancouver 48*

3. Los Angeles 48*

4. San Jose 47 WC

5. Phoenix 40 WC

6. Edmonton 39

7. Calgary 30

Division B

1. Chicago 62* X

2. Minnesota 46*

3. St. Louis 44*

4. Winnipeg 40 

5. Dallas 39 

6. Nashville 38

7. Colorado 29

Here is how the playoffs would look like.

Chicago vs Phoenix

Anaheim vs San Jose

Vancouver vs Los Angeles

Minnesota vs St. Louis

X-Clinched Playoff Berth Y- Clinched Division Z- Clinched Home Ice P- President’s Trophy WC- Wildcard E-Eliminated

If the NHL already realigned, as of now, the Devs would open the Stanley Cup playoffs at home v. the Columbus Blue Jackets

Here are the NHL standings as of March 31 under the current alignment. Just going by 1-15 and not by division. Division winners are automatically seeded 1,2,3. Top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. 

Witel

       Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh 56- Atlantic
2. Montreal 49- Northeast
3. Winnipeg 38- Southeast
4. Boston 48
5. Ottawa 44
6. Toronto 44
7. New Jersey  39
8. New York Rangers 35
9. New York Islanders 35
10. Carolina 34
11. Washington 33
12. Buffalo 32
13. Tampa Bay 31
14. Philadelphia 31
15. Florida 28

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 55- Central
2. Anaheim 51- Pacific
3. Minnesota 44- Northwest
4. Vancouver 44
5. Los Angeles 43
6. San Jose 40
7. Detroit 39
8. Columbus 37
9. St. Louis 36
10. Dallas 35
11. Edmonton 35
12. Nashville 35
13. Phoenix 34
14. Calgary 30
15. Colorado 28

Now Let’s see how the standings would look under the new realignment proposal.Eastern Conference

Division D

1. Pittsburgh 55*

2. New Jersey 39*

3. Columbus 37*

4. New York Rangers 35

5. New York Islanders 35

6. Carolina 34

7. Washington 33

8. Philadelphia 21

Division C

1. Montreal 49*

2. Boston 48*

3. Ottawa 44*

4. Toronto 44 WC

5. Detroit 39 WC

6. Buffalo 32

7. Tampa Bay 31

8. Florida 28

Here is how the playoffs would look like in the Eastern Conference.

Pittsburgh vs Detroit

Montreal vs Toronto

Boston vs Ottawa

New Jersey vs Columbus

Western Conference

Division A

1. Anaheim 51*

2. Vancouver 44*

3. Los Angeles 43*

4. San Jose 40 WC

5. Edmonton 35 

6. Phoenix 34

7. Calgary 30

Division C

1. Chicago 55*

2. Minnesota 44*

3. Winnipeg 38*

4. St. Louis 36 WC

5. Dallas 35 

6. Nashville 35

7. Colorado 28

Here is how the playoffs would look like out West.

Chicago vs St. Louis

Anaheim vs San Jose

Vancouver vs Los Angeles

Minnesota vs Winnipeg

What if the NHL Already Realigned for the Week of March 18, 2013

By Vincent Witel

NJDevsBlog.com

Vinnie 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 17, 2013.

       Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh 44- Atlantic
2. Montreal 42- Northeast
3. Winnipeg 32- Southeast
4. Boston 41
5. Ottawa 36
6. Toronto 32
7. New Jersey  32
8. Carolina 31
9. New York Islanders 29
10. New York Rangers 28
11. Philadelphia 27
12. Tampa Bay 25
13. Washington 25
14. Buffalo 24
15. Florida 20

       Western Conference

1. Chicago 49- Central
2. Anaheim 44- Pacific
3. Minnesota 32- Northwest
4. St. Louis 34
5. Detroit 33
6. Los Angeles 32
7. Vancouver 32
8. San Jose 30
9. Phoenix 30
10. Edmonton 28
11. Nashville 28
12. Columbus 28
13. Dallas 27
14. Calgary 26
15. Colorado 24

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

Eastern Conference

Division D

1. Pittsburgh 44*

2. New Jersey 32*

3. Carolina 31*

4. New York Islanders 29

5. New York Rangers 28

6. Columbus 28

7. Philadelphia 27

8. Washington 25

Division C

1. Montreal 42*

2. Boston 41*

3. Ottawa 36*

4. Detroit 33 WC

5. Toronto 31 WC

6. Tampa Bay 25

7. Buffalo 24

8. Florida 20

Under the new proposal, the 1 seed with the most points plays the lowest-seeded wild card. The 1 seed with the second most points plays the second-lowest seeded wild card. The 2 and 3 seeds in the division will always play each other. This is the biggest quirk in divisional playoffs — as it’s not really divisional. If two wild cards come from one division, one division winner won’t play a team from its own division in round 1.

Pittsburgh vs Toronto

Montreal vs Detroit

New Jersey vs Carolina

Boston vs Ottawa

Western Conference

Division A

1. Anaheim 44*

2. Los Angeles 32*

3. Vancouver 32*

4. San Jose 30 WC 

5. Phoenix 30 

6. Edmonton 28

7. Calgary 26

Division B

1. Chicago 49*

2. St. Louis 34*

3. Minnesota 32*

4. Winnipeg 32 WC

5. Nashville 28

6. Dallas 27

7. Colorado 24

Chicago vs San Jose

Anaheim vs Winnipeg

St. Louis vs Minnesota

Los Angeles vs Vancouver

Realignment approved by NHL BOG, scheduling matrix stinks

Here is a breakdown of the new schedule matrix created for the new alignment plan. (Source: NHL.com).

Western Conference (seven-team divisions)

Within Conference (Division): 29 games

* 5 games vs. five teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. two teams, 2 Home/3 Away vs. three teams) AND 4 games vs. one team (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.

* 5 X 5 =25 games

* 1 X 4 = 4 games

Within Conference (Non-Division): 21 games

* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs. three teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.

* 3 X 7 = 21 games

Non-Conference: 32 games

* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away)

* 2 X 16 = 32 games

(Exception: one team from each division plays one less game inside Division and one more game inside Conference outside Division)

Eastern Conference (8-team divisions)

Within Conference (Division): 30 games

* 5 games vs. two teams (3 Home/2 Away vs. one team, 2 Home/3 Away vs. one team) AND 4 games vs. five teams (2 Home/2 Away). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.

* 5 X 2 =10 games

* 4 X 5 = 20 games

Within Conference (Non-Division): 24 games

* 3 games vs. each team (2 Home/1 Away vs. four teams, 1 Home/2 Away vs. four teams). Teams rotated on a yearly basis.

* 3 X 8 = 24 games

Non-Conference: 28 games

* 2 games vs. each team (1 Home/1 Away)

* 2 X 14 = 28 games

Meanwhile, here's what the divisions will look like. My only gripe — I would have put Detroit in our division and Carolina in the other Eastern Conference division.

Also, keep in mind, for the playoffs, the division winners get seeds 1 and 2, the top two in each division get seeds 3 to 6 and the wildcards get seeds 7 and 8.

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